Yuan’s Ascension

Chapter 1359: The Samsara Tribulation, The Final Battle Begins (2)

Deep within the Ancient Megaverse, a shadowy figure materialized in the vast void, its attention fixed upon a towering, domineering presence not far away.

“Di Jiang,” Great Emperor Yan Tuo greeted with a measured smile as he regarded the distant projection.

“As per our previous agreement, Yan Tuo, if you participate in this battle and help our Eldritch Court ultimately defeat the Immortal Court, I will no longer compete with you for the Heavenly Cauldron.” Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said in a low voice.

Any Dao Zenithel who overheard this exchange would undoubtedly be shocked. Both Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang and Great Emperor Yan Tuo were Archons competing for the Heavenly Cauldron, one of the Three Supreme Divine Objects.

“No,” Yan Tuo replied firmly, shaking his head. “I only promise to do my utmost to assist your Eldritch Court in this battle. I cannot guarantee victory. Moreover, you must deal with the Heavenly Imperator yourselves. I will face Imperial Majesty Dong Huo, possibly Dao Zenithel Wan Yu, or other leader-level powerhouses.”

His gaze steady, he continued, “If you can agree to this, I will join the battle. If not, then forget it.” A faint smile played across his lips as he watched Di Jiang’s reaction.

Inwardly, Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang cursed. Great Emperor Yan Tuo was clearly taking advantage of him, yet he had no choice but to accept. The news from Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had been too alarming; with over seventy Dao Zenithels, the pressure was immense. According to Wu Yuan’s deductions, if they lost this battle, the Eldritch Court would likely face true annihilation with no chance of recovery.

“Fine,” Di Jiang conceded coldly. “But you must also agree that for the next three samsara cycles of heaven and earth, you will participate in all clashes between the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court,.”

Within three samsara cycles of heaven and earth, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu would certainly have revived.

Great Emperor Yan Tuo considered briefly before nodding. “Alright, I agree.”

Was there much difference between participating once or for three samsara cycles? Not really. Having decided to stand with the Eldritch Court, he might as well commit fully.

“In ten days, Dao Zenithel Ming Jian will come to escort you. Gather as many of your Dao Zenithels as possible,” Di Jiang stated.

With that, his incarnation dissipated into the void.

Kill me? Heavenly Imperator? Yan Tuo murmured to himself. Of the first-tier Archons of the Heavenly Cauldron, only Di Jiang and I remain. If Di Jiang withdraws, I’ll have the best chance.

Great Emperor Yan Tuo yearned for the Heavenly Cauldron. With my Xuanhuang Dao Treasure for protection, the chances of my demise are minimal. He reasoned. And if he did perish? The path of cultivation has always involved some risk. His resolve was set.

Many factors had led him to side with the Eldritch Court—his good relations with Eldritch Progenitors Di Jiang and Hou Tu, and the fact that the Heavenly Imperator already viewed him as an enemy.

…

Within the Blood Dream Voidrealm, Wu Yuan faced the two leaders. “Blood Emperor, Dream Emperor,” he addressed them directly. “The time for the decisive battle has come.”

“Decisive battle? Between the Eldritch Court and the Immortal Court?” The Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting resignation.

“I don’t wish to fight either, but the Heavenly Imperator forces our hand,” Wu Yuan stated. “You are both Archons of the Original Sword. Do you think the Heavenly Imperator will allow you to live?”

Both emperors trembled inwardly at the implication.

“We await the Alliance Leader’s command,” they responded in unison, offering slight bows.

Over the span of nearly an entire samsara cycle, Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self had repeatedly demonstrated overwhelming power, effectively subduing the Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor. At least outwardly, they now showed complete faith in Wu Yuan.

“Good,” Wu Yuan nodded. “Gather the Dao Zenithels of the alliance. I will come to escort you as soon as possible.”

…

As Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self and mana body traversed the endless cosmic sea to gather allies, figures also began arriving in an inconspicuous corner of the Immortal Court Universe. Each emanated an eternal, indestructible aura, as if they were embodiments of the Dao itself. Nearly eighty such beings assembled.

At the apex stood the golden-robed Heavenly Imperator, flanked by Imperial Majesty Nan Guang, Imperial Majesty Dong Huo, and the white-robed elder, Dao Zenithel Wan Yu. Several other powerhouses stood below them, including two Wu Yuan recognized: Dao Zenithel Bai Lian and the Lord of the Abyss.

“In this battle, our Immortal Court, Wan Yu Tower, Azure Lotus Megaverse, Abyss Alliance, Nine Desolations Megaverse, and Nine Saints Alliance will join forces. Seventy-eight Dao Zenithels, including eight with combat power at the leader-level or above, have finally united to ignite this great war,” the Heavenly Imperator’s voice carried across the assembly, his gaze sweeping over the gathered Dao Zenithels.

His voice deepened with authority. “We will annihilate the entire Eldritch Court. After this war, only one faction will remain standing in the entire cosmic sea—the Heavenly Alliance. All races shall become one family.”

The assembled Dao Zenithels listened intently. Though they came from different factions and were not easily swayed, they had to admit that the Heavenly Imperator’s overwhelming might and grand vision made their hearts tremble. Destroy the Eldritch Court, unify the cosmic sea, unite all races as one.

“In this war,” the Heavenly Imperator continued slowly, “the first task is to annihilate the Immortal Court Universe.”

Silence fell. All the Dao Zenithels were dumbfounded, doubting their own ears. Even Imperial Majesty Dong Huo and Dao Zenithel Wan Yu seemed surprised. Annihilate the Immortal Court Universe? The very universe the Heavenly Imperator himself ruled?

“You heard correctly,” the Heavenly Imperator confirmed calmly. “We shall first annihilate the Immortal Court Universe.”

Without a sound, a pitch-black divine sword materialized in his palm. As this weapon appeared, all Dao Zenithels felt their hearts quake. The surrounding void fell deathly still as countless spacetime rifts spontaneously manifested.

Every Dao Zenithel present recognized this divine sword as none other than the Original Sword, a Supreme Divine Object.

Whoosh! A flash of sword light swept across heaven and earth, slicing apart the endless void. One sword strike rent an irreparable gash across the entire universe.

This terrifying display of power made all the Dao Zenithels blanch. Even Dao Zenithel Wan Yu and the Lord of the Abyss were shaken. They finally understood why Saint Yuan had nearly perished at the Heavenly Imperator’s hands years ago.

“Why aren’t you attacking?” the Heavenly Imperator prompted.

The Dao Zenithels exchanged glances before responding, “Let us begin.”

In an instant, apart from Imperial Majesty Nan Guang, Imperial Majesty Dong Huo, and Dao Zenithel Wan Yu, the other seventy-odd Dao Zenithels got into formation under the leadership of four Full Dao Zenithel powerhouses: Dao Zenithel Bai Lian, the Lord of the Abyss, Dao Zenithel Jiu Huang, and Lord White Devil. They formed four terrifyingly powerful battle arrays.

The Dao Zenithels held nothing back, each unleashing attacks on the Immortal Court Universe. With a thunderous boom, macrocosm after macrocosm collapsed, and galactic cluster after galactic cluster crumbled. The vast Immortal Court Universe was completely ravaged.

Countless universe-born lifeforms, from lofty Sovereigns to humble mortals, perished in droves, having no time to react.

The entire River of Universes spacetime was already in the final stages of the samsara cycle, with each universe teetering on the brink of destruction. By rights, the Immortal Court Universe should not have crumbled so easily. Yet those taking action were the leaders of the Immortal Court Universe itself. The attacks of these Dao Zenithels merely caused surface-level damage. The true fatal blow came from within, where the Heavenly Imperator unraveled the universe’s essence.

The universe’s annihilation had become irreversible.

Destruction! Ultimate destruction breaks all fetters. Only then can one transcend. The Heavenly Imperator calmly watched this scene unfold.

Once, ruling a universe had placed him at the pinnacle of the cosmic sea. Now, he sought to cast it all aside.

Saint Yuan! Ming Jian? His pupils darkened as he gazed into the depths of the universe, as if glimpsing the silhouettes of the Ling Jiang Universe and Long Shan Universe. You should be leading the Eldritch Court’s armies here by now.

…

In the Long Shan Universe, spacetime suddenly fluctuated as Wu Yuan’s body refiner self emerged from his Eternal Realm. His gaze immediately caught the massive rifts tearing open across the void. The Long Shan Universe had begun its inexorable march toward destruction.

Several figures emerged as well—the Eldritch Court True Saints who had been waiting in the Eternal Realm. Shock registered on their faces as they witnessed the devastation.

“Has the end of the samsara cycle of heaven and earth come early?”

“Is the universe being destroyed?”

These True Saints soon noticed the black-robed figure in the void.

Wu Yuan’s expression hardened. The samsara cycle had indeed begun ahead of its time, and the catalyst was clear: the Immortal Court Universe.

Its destruction was like a massive boulder striking a fragile, cracking dam, shattering it completely. The collapse unleashed a chain reaction across the cosmos.

Now, not only the Eldritch Court Universe, but universe after universe throughout the River of Universes began to fail. The destructive force spread relentlessly, consuming everything in its path.

Boom! The universes marched toward annihilation. Countless macrocosms crumbled as spacetime contracted. Innumerable stars and lifeforms reverted to primeval particles, all life extinguished.

Everything converged toward the core essence space of each universe, revealing the majestic and boundless universe’s essence. The Long Shan Universe and Ling Jiang Universe were no exception.

…

“Has the samsara cycle of heaven and earth come early?”

“It has begun.”

The transition of samsara cycles and the destruction of many universes caused tremendous turbulence in the essence of the Primordial Rules. This immediately alerted Dao Zenithels across the cosmic sea. As one, they turned their attention toward the Central Megaverse, focusing on the River of Universes spacetime.

The rumble of destruction continued. Driven by the River of Universes’ essence power, endless destructive forces tore apart everything, reducing all to primordial energies and particles. This power was enough to annihilate any Perennial or Saint. True Saints could barely survive getting caught in the midst of such destruction, while Dao Zenithel powerhouses could traverse it freely.

After all, this was merely the destruction of universes, not the collapse of the entire River of Universes spacetime. It could not affect those at the Dao Zenithel stage.

The universes reform, a new cycle begins. Wu Yuan murmured, his consciousness reaching outward to sense the astonishing changes unfolding in each universe.

Countless lifeforms perished, beyond his power to save. Even if the cycle hadn’t ended early, they would have been doomed eventually. Without achieving eternity, all would eventually be erased.

Time flowed on. Each universe was incomparably vast, thus the process of their destruction and rebirth required substantial time.

Days passed. The shockwaves of destruction buffeted Wu Yuan’s two Eternal Realms. Lesser Saint Realms would have shattered under such impacts, but the resilience of his Eternal Realms allowed them to withstand the onslaught, even sensing the essence of the two universes.

Merge with the universe’s essence? Wu Yuan considered. Now is not the right time. The samsara cycle still has a long way to go before reaching its end. The destructive operation of the universe’s essence has not fully subsided.

Only when destruction ran its full course and the universe was reborn, when a new cycle began, would it be the optimal moment for the Eternal Realm to merge with the universe’s essence.

However, what truly concerned Wu Yuan now was something else entirely. As universes were destroyed and the cycle turned, the Primordium’s pressure was rapidly receding throughout the boundless River of Universes. The suppression that had originally permeated every corner was diminishing.

Without a doubt, Dao Zenithels were no longer restrained by the River of Universes’ essence. They could now traverse spacetime with relative freedom. This was the period when the environments of the River of Universes spacetime and cosmic sea were most similar.

Suddenly, Wu Yuan’s eyes flickered. They’re on the way.

His qi refiner self and mana body, having gathered many Dao Zenithels outside the River of Universes spacetime, were now speeding toward the Immortal Court Universe.

I should head over as well.

Whoosh! A black-robed figure materialized beside Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self, radiating an equally domineering aura. It was his ether body.

Come. Wu Yuan’s ether body commanded. In an instant, the entire Eternal Realm shook as ten streams of light shot skyward. They were ten sabers of the same source, flying directly into Wu Yuan’s ether body.

Let’s go! With Wu Yuan’s body refiner self and mana body following closely behind, he flew toward the Immortal Court Universe on the other side of the River of Universes.

Heavenly Imperator, what exactly are you planning? To go so far as to destroy your own universe? Wu Yuan thought grimly. Nevertheless, whatever your aim may be, stopping you is the right thing to do.

Battle fervor blazed in his heart, like an inferno that reached the heavens.