Chapter 1012: Perennial, Dao Pioneer, True Saint (1)

Three paths?

There are three paths to eternity?

Wu Yuan murmured to himself, unable to resist asking, "Which three paths? I humbly request the True Saint's guidance."

Wu Yuan truly knew very little about this information. Whether in the Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters or the Eldritch Court, intelligence regarding the eternal stage seemed to be a closely kept secret. Even the Overlords had very limited direct access to it.

“You’ve actually encountered most of them before, you just weren't aware," True Saint Taiyuan smiled. "The first path, which is also the most common one, is Primordial Enlightenment or Dao Enlightenment.

“Whether comprehending Great Daos or exploring the profundities of matter, they fundamentally lie within the scope of the Primordial Rules. This path can be further divided into the path of Laws and the path of matter.

“By fully comprehending a Great Dao, one’s soul can merge with it, existing eternally with the Great Dao. One's Yuan Soul can also exist eternally, naturally allowing it to break free from the constraints and erosion of the river of space and time.

“By researching the profundities of matter to the extremes, one’s every punch and technique transcends heaven and earth, surpassing all things. One’s body and power reach such a level of perfection that even the river of space and time cannot affect them," True Saint Taiyuan smiled. “The so-called singularity of eternity actually refers broadly to Primordial Eternity.

“Of course, the countless lifeforms in the universes of our megaverse mostly comprehend Laws. Those who take the path of matter are extremely rare, barely any at all.

“With the latest opening of the Megaverse Crossroads, opportunities to cultivate the path of matter have spread. However, very few mortal lifeforms can grasp such an extraordinary chance," True Saint Taiyuan smiled. "Though it seems your body refiner self has grasped it, likely cultivating both eternal paths simultaneously."

"True Saint is perceptive," said Wu Yuan, secretly amazed.

As expected of a True Saint, his insight was truly extraordinary. And under True Saint Taiyuan's guidance, Wu Yuan's perspective gradually broadened.

"The second path to achieving eternity is to break through the Dao with power," said True Saint Taiyuan. "This path is even rarer.

“Essentially, it's a new path taken by sempiternal lifeforms who have been stuck at the final step for eons, unable to fully comprehend the Great Dao or construct eternal matter," explained True Saint Taiyuan.

"A new path?" Wu Yuan was curious.

"The final step of Primordial Enlightenment has stopped countless monstrous prodigies," True Saint Taiyuan said slowly. "To achieve Primordial Eternity, one must first merge with an eternal Great Dao or undergo a reconstitution of matter at the eternal level. Either way, the first step is to break free from the constraints of the river of space and time, which goes against the workings of heaven and earth.

“It's all or nothing. Once you attempt Dao Enlightenment and reach the last step, you'll face the suppression, restriction and even backlash of the entire river of space and time," True Saint Taiyuan looked at Wu Yuan. "Success means achieving eternity. Failure means, at best, damage to your foundation, requiring trillions of years to recover from; at worst, immediate death.

“Therefore, the vast majority of Overlords who take the first path rarely dare to attempt the process of Dao Enlightenment casually. Most of them wait, often delaying until the final stages of the samsara cycle of heaven and earth, when they've accumulated enough insights, before attempting Dao Enlightenment," said True Saint Taiyuan. "And the vast majority end in failure. Those who seek to achieve eternity through Dao Enlightenment mostly turn to ash."

Wu Yuan held his breath as he listened. Was it truly so cruel? Previously, he had always thought that as long as one had sufficient accumulation, fully comprehending the Great Dao, they could achieve eternity. Now it seemed far from that simple.

"When you reach the ninth-level Dao Field stage, nearing eternity, you'll naturally feel the suppression and constraints of heaven and earth," said True Saint Taiyuan.

"I see," Wu Yuan nodded.

Ninth-level Dao Field stage? He was still very far from that level. At his current cultivation speed, he might not reach it even after ten million years. Just breaking through the bottleneck of the seventh-level Dao Field stage would not be easy.

"In this situation, many Overlords begin trying to increase their power as much as possible, strengthening themselves in multiple ways," said True Saint Taiyuan. "Obtaining more powerful Xiantian artifacts, researching eternal secret arts, hunting for special items from the cosmic sea in an attempt to make their souls eternal, and so on.

“They use many methods to increase their power holistically, aiming to reach the fourth-stage Overlord level, or even gradually approach the fifth-stage," True Saint Taiyuan smiled. "After all, the Dao is only part of one's power. The cosmic sea is vast, with many special techniques that can greatly increase an Overlord's power."

Wu Yuan listened intently. It sounded like there were many wondrous and mysterious things in the endless cosmic sea.

"The river of space and time originates from the Primordium, but it's ultimately not the Primordium itself. There are limits to its constraints," said True Saint Taiyuan. "This means that with enough power, one can break through the constraints of the river, shatter samsara, and similarly achieve eternity.

“This is what it means to break through the Dao with power, also known as Dao Breaking.

“Typically, fourth-stage Overlords stand less than a 10% chance of success," True Saint Taiyuan said calmly. "With fifth-stage Overlord power, there's a 90% chance."

"Less than 10% chance for fourth-stage Overlords?" Wu Yuan was stunned. How difficult!

According to the information he had just obtained from the Taiyuan Divine Court’s intelligence archives, there seemed to be only two fourth-stage Overlords in the entire Ling Jiang Universe. Dao Breaking was truly a path with terrible odds.

"What happens if one fails?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Death," True Saint Taiyuan shook his head slightly. "Primordial Enlightenment involves harnessing external power to break internal constraints, so the backlash from the river of space and time isn't as severe.

“But Dao Breaking relies purely on one's own might, without harnessing any external force. Therefore, the backlash from the river of space and time is extremely terrifying. Success means life, failure means death. There is no third possibility."

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.

The path to eternity was indeed not an easy one to walk. Even for Overlords standing at the peak of sempiternal life, those who dared to attempt it would likely meet their doom.

"Currently, you have barely attained Overlord-level power," True Saint Taiyuan smiled at Wu Yuan. "As you continue to grow and reach the ninth-level Dao Field stage, you'll likely be comparable to a fourth-stage Overlord. Naturally, you'll have the qualifications to attempt Dao Breaking then."

"I see," Wu Yuan nodded lightly.

If he couldn't fully comprehend the Great Dao in the future, then he could only try to break through with power. At least it gave him another option.

"True Saint, what about the third path?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Of the three paths to eternity, the first two are extremely difficult," True Saint Taiyuan continued. "But they are equally rewarding. Once successful, one can pioneer their own Dao, and most can even achieve eternal Sainthood, establishing a Saintdom, enjoying endless Faith providence, and becoming indestructible through nine cycles."

Endless Faith providence? Indestructible through nine cycles?

Many questions flashed through Wu Yuan's mind. He couldn't comprehend it all.

"Haha, when you reach that level, you'll naturally understand," True Saint Taiyuan smiled. "As for the third path, it's relatively much easier. Most with third-stage Overlord power can succeed. It's also called Heaven’s Stowaway."

"However, it relies heavily on luck," said True Saint Taiyuan. "With good luck, everyone can succeed. With bad luck, there's no hope at all."

"Third-stage Overlord power, and everyone can succeed? But it still depends on luck?" Wu Yuan was thoroughly confused. Heaven’s Stowaway?

"If one day in the future, an extremely powerful Overlord in the Ling Jiang Universe succeeds in Primordial Enlightenment or Dao Breaking," True Saint Taiyuan smiled, "then in the extremely brief moment of their transcendence, the radiance of eternity will spread throughout the universe. All Daos and even the river of space and time will be completely suppressed by the radiance of eternity, unable to fluctuate."

“Then, for almost all Overlords in the Ling Jiang Universe, their chance for eternity will come," True Saint Taiyuan looked at Wu Yuan. "Ming Jian, do you understand now?"

Wu Yuan was stunned, now comprehending what True Saint Taiyuan meant.

When that critical moment came, the constraints of the river of space and time placed on sempiternal beings would drastically weaken. Within a single universe, the challenge Overlords faced when breaking free from the river's hold would be significantly reduced. Even those with third-stage Overlord strength would find hope of succeeding. It was no surprise the True Saint remarked that while most could succeed, the outcome ultimately hinged on luck.

"With good luck, one encounters an existence that succeeds in Primordial Enlightenment or Dao Breaking in this samsara cycle of heaven and earth, and can ride the momentum to similarly achieve eternity," Wu Yuan thought to himself. "With bad luck, one doesn't encounter it, and is destined to perish."

No wonder it was called Heaven’s Stowaway. One was riding on the success of another to reach the shore of eternity, hiding from heaven’s eye.

"Those who achieve eternity through the third path do not undergo the baptism of the Primordial Rules and will thus fail to gain acknowledgment from the Primordium. They'll almost always be stuck at the first step of eternity," True Saint Taiyuan said softly.

"It's almost impossible for them to pioneer their own Dao, let alone achieve Sainthood. In terms of potential, they won’t be much stronger than naturally-born eternal lifeforms," said True Saint Taiyuan.

Wu Yuan nodded involuntarily.

Though that may be so, at least they would be eternally indestructible and no longer suffer the pains of samsara.

"True Saint, are there many who achieve eternity through the third path?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.

"Not few," True Saint Taiyuan said calmly. "Normally, in the endless megaverse, several are able to achieve eternity through their own power in each samsara cycle of heaven and earth. Each one born brings blessings to their universe.

“This is especially so for the Overlords in the Eldritch Court Universe and Immortal Court Universe. These factions have more powerhouses, so more naturally transcend through their own power, allowing these two forces to produce more eternal existences.

“This is something other Saintdoms can't compare to," said True Saint Taiyuan.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

He could well imagine that, after countless samsara cycles of heaven and earth, the number of eternal existences within the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court would be significant. However, those who had truly attained Sainthood were likely exceedingly rare.

"Don't overthink it. If you venture into the cosmic sea, you'll encounter many first-step Eternals, but they don't dare return to the river of space and time. Upon entering the river, their power would sharply decrease, likely only comparable to second-stage Overlords," said True Saint Taiyuan. "And if they're exposed to the waters of samsara for too long, they risk falling back into samsara.

“Therefore, first-step Eternals almost never return to the river of space and time. At least, in the many samsara cycles of heaven and earth I've lived through, I've never witnessed it," said True Saint Taiyuan. "Even in the cosmic sea, the power of first-step Eternals is only comparable to fourth-stage Overlords."

Wu Yuan suddenly understood. It seemed these eternal beings who relied on opportunity and luck truly weren't that powerful.

"What about the Heavenly Imperator of the past? I once heard he slew an eternal being?" Wu Yuan asked.