Chapter 1016: The Madness Of Overlord Bloodforge (2)

"Could it be... Ming Jian will be unwilling to help? Our Taiyuan Divine Court has aided him considerably. If this matter succeeds and Bloodforge can revive and return, it would greatly benefit our Taiyuan Divine Court as well," Overlord Xue Li said in a low voice, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

"Xue Li, I know you're sworn brothers with Bloodforge, and I too hope for Overlord Bloodforge's return," Overlord Xin Ya frowned. "But I've inquired with the True Saint, and he didn't mandate that Ming Jian must exhaust all efforts to save him.

“Moreover, you must understand," Overlord Xin Ya shook his head. "That would come at the cost of all life in an entire macrocosm. Given Ming Jian's temperament, he may be unwilling to do so, and there would be numerous difficulties. Not to mention, how would we deal with Wu Yuan's interference from the Cang Feng Eldritch World?”

"We must act while Wu Yuan is not yet an Overlord," Overlord Xue Li growled in a low voice. "Once Wu Yuan becomes an Overlord, our chances will naturally be slim.

“If we act now, there's still a 30% chance of success. If we don't, Bloodforge is doomed to perish." Overlord Xue Li glared at Overlord Xin Ya and snarled, "They're merely mortal lives. We're not slaughtering those sempiternal lives. What does it matter if we kill them all? In just a few hundred or thousand years, they'll fully repopulate.”

Overlord Xin Ya sighed inwardly, realizing further discussion with Overlord Xue Li was futile. The gap in their perspectives was too vast.

"The True Saint has decreed that the decision for this matter lies solely with Ming Jian," Overlord Xin Ya said solemnly. "No one may interfere, and you mustn't seek out Ming Jian on your own, lest you put me in a difficult position."

Overlord Xue Li faltered.

"Hmph!" Overlord Xue Li transformed into a streak of light and departed in a huff.

“Haiz!” Overlord Xin Ya shook his head slightly, feeling a headache coming on. He understood why Overlord Xue Li was so enraged.

In Overlord Xue Li's view, given Ming Jian's current power, he could easily accomplish this task with minimal cost and a high chance of success. But Overlord Xin Ya knew it wasn't so simple.

Slaughter all life in a macrocosm? Easier said than done.

Overlord Xin Ya sighed inwardly.

Alas, you don't understand Ming Jian, nor do you realize he is Wu Yuan.

Ming Jian will likely refuse.

Overlord Xin Ya was confident he understood Wu Yuan's nature well – decisive in battle, yet not bloodthirsty, with his own principles.

If Overlord Xin Ya were to make the choice, he wouldn't care about the lives of mortals in a single macrocosm. How vast was the divine court headquarters' domain? Why fret over those lives?

But he cared about Wu Yuan.

Moreover, Overlord Xin Ya knew that the True Saint likewise valued Wu Yuan. Compared to the barely surviving, deranged Overlord Bloodforge, True Saint Taiyuan placed far more importance on Wu Yuan.

Thus, True Saint Taiyuan made no mention of Overlord Bloodforge's matter, and Overlord Xin Ya was unwilling to offend Wu Yuan. The final decision? Let Wu Yuan and Overlord Bloodforge discuss it between themselves.

Whatever the outcome, it won't cause Ming Jian to resent the divine court headquarters.

Overlord Xin Ya mused.

...

Through the Spacetime Intersection Layer, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self swiftly returned to the Greenridge Macrocosm.

He didn't rush to the Bloodforge Spacetime, but instead returned directly to his stronghold, the Ming Jian Realm.

Back in the Spacetime Sword Hall, Wu Yuan smiled slightly as he sat in lotus position atop a jade platform.

I feel most at ease here, With me personally guarding the Ming Jian Realm, even if three or five Overlords joined forces to attack, they couldn't shake it, given the myriad arrays and restrictions.

As his qi refiner self grew steadily stronger, Wu Yuan had been reinforcing the Ming Jian Realm's arrays.

Realm-Splitting Shuttle.

Wu Yuan flipped his palm, revealing a long shuttle that shimmered like ethereal starlight in his palm.

I must study it thoroughly to fully unleash its power.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

With the Origin Realm Pearl, my domain suppression ability rivals that of an Overlord of Spacetime, but in terms of escape ability, I still fall short

.

Overlords of Spacetime were all astonishing in their ability to tear through spacetime.

Once my Dao comprehension deepens, coupled with the Realm-Splitting Shuttle, those Overlords of Spacetime won’t be able to touch me.

Wu Yuan pondered silently.

The path of cultivation was never about compensating for weaknesses, but augmenting one’s strengths.

Master one skill and you can conquer all. [1]

It was just like how those comprehending the Great Dao of Spacetime excelled in escape, often leaving even far stronger beings helpless, or how those who comprehended the Great Dao of Destiny excelled in divination, often avoiding danger before it arrived, making it extremely difficult for ordinary powerhouses to even locate them.

Whether it's the Realm-Splitting Shuttle or the Thirty-Six Constellation Swords, they need to be deciphered slowly to unleash their full power.

Wu Yuan's true self and mana body simultaneously settled into quiet cultivation.

As for Overlord Bloodforge? He paid him no mind. And regarding the acquisition of the Greenridge Immortal World's territory? It was a trivial matter he cared little about, letting Sovereign Heng Yang and Sovereign Zhen Guang handle everything.

For Wu Yuan, striving to strengthen himself was paramount. Only with overwhelming power could one achieve true freedom.

Meanwhile, within the internal space of his qi refiner self's immortal body, the ethereal Samsara Sword hung high in the void, emanating a hazy radiance.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Over three hundred high-grade Dao Instrument flying swords materialized beneath the Samsara Sword. All of them were Spacetime type.

The majority of these flying swords were gifts from True Saint Taiyuan, while several dozen were spoils from Wu Yuan's qi refiner self's previous battles, which he hadn't traded for treasures.

Hum~

The moment all these flying swords appeared, the Samsara Sword in the void instantly began to quiver, then erupted with rays of purple light. A full three hundred rays simultaneously enveloped each of the Dao Instrument divine swords.

All at once?

Wu Yuan was momentarily startled.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Streams of light, imbued with mysterious power and energy, swiftly emerged from the core of each divine sword, traveling along the purple beams to the surface of the Samsara Sword.

Then, the illusory Samsara Sword immediately began to devour the energy frantically like an insatiable beast. The streams of light carrying the essences of the Dao Instrument divine swords dissipated.

In an instant, Wu Yuan sensed the essences of the three hundred Dao Instrument flying swords weaken rapidly, while the Samsara Sword grew visibly brighter. Its blade became increasingly tangible, the aura of its essence ever more potent.

Devour, grow, transform from illusory to real.

Wu Yuan had vaguely grasped this concept.

The Samsara Sword he had obtained years ago was likely just an essence imprint, requiring him to strengthen it with his own power, manifesting it in reality.

Simultaneously devouring over three hundred Dao Instrument divine swords seemed to be an immense burden even for the Samsara Sword. Therefore, the absorption rate wasn't particularly fast. But Wu Yuan wasn't in a hurry. This process of steadily increasing its power was deeply satisfying.

Several years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Samsara Sword has recovered to nearly 50% of its power.

Wu Yuan silently sensed.

Once it fully absorbs these hundreds of Dao Instrument divine swords, it should recover to close to 60%.

According to the information Wu Yuan had previously gleaned from the Samsara Sword, its recovery process had three thresholds: 30%, 70%, and 100%.

Crossing each threshold would result in a qualitative change in the Samsara Sword's power.

From 30% to 50%?

The Samsara Sword's Dao resonance and power have been strengthened, but the increase isn't too dramatic. I estimate it's boosted my direct combat strength by about 30%.

Wu Yuan mused.

A mere 30% increase wasn’t enough to reach the peak of the first-stage Overlord level, let alone the next stage.

Hmm? He finally can’t sit still?

Wu Yuan murmured to himself.

Whoosh!

A streak of light flew out from Wu Yuan's qi refiner self—it was Wu Yuan's mana body.

His mana body's surroundings shifted as it traversed space, arriving at the edge of the Ming Jian Realm.

In the distant void, three figures emanating rather powerful auras were conversing.

Hum~

As Wu Yuan's mana body approached, it deliberately released its aura, which was instantly sensed by the three Sovereigns. They turned as one.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Overlord Ming Jian."

"Greetings, Overlord." The three Sovereigns bowed respectfully.

"Heng Yang, Zhen Guang." Wu Yuan smiled, his gaze falling on the figure in blood-red robes beside them. "And this must be Devil Sovereign Bloodforge?"

"I wouldn't dare," the blood-robed figure said humbly. "Overlord, please call me Saber Devil."

"Saber Devil?" Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

This was Devil Sovereign Bloodforge's true name. ‘Devil Sovereign Bloodforge’ referred to the leader of the Bloodforge Devil Hall faction, rather than any specific Sovereign.

"Years ago, I heard of the Overlord seizing a Saintcrest. I remarked to other Sovereigns then that the Overlord's talent was extraordinary," Saber Devil flattered. "But I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, the Overlord would grow to such heights."

"It was just luck," Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

"Saber Devil, what brings you to see me?" Wu Yuan continued.

"Overlord Bloodforge extends an invitation," Saber Devil said cautiously. "He hopes the Overlord will grace the Bloodforge Spacetime with your presence."

Inwardly, he felt quite anxious. According to Overlord Xue Li's message, Ming Jian should have gone to the Bloodforge Spacetime long ago. But after several years, there wasn't even a shadow of him. Finally, Overlord Bloodforge grew impatient and ordered Saber Devil to inquire personally.

"Very well. Since Overlord Bloodforge has invited me, I naturally can't refuse," Wu Yuan said coolly. "Let's go."

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan's mana body waved its hand, and a powerful force instantly enveloped Devil Sovereign Bloodforge, causing both to vanish from this void in an instant.

Wu Yuan's mana body now possessed the strength of an eighth-stage Sovereign even without any Xiantian artifacts, no less formidable than the late Sovereign Qing Ling. Naturally, it was beyond the ability of Devil Sovereign Bloodforge, with his fourth-stage Sovereign combat power, to resist.

"An invitation from Overlord Bloodforge?"

"That old codger isn't dead yet? Why summon Overlord Ming Jian over there?" Sovereign Heng Yang and Sovereign Zhen Guang, left behind, pondered quietly. Their knowledge of Overlord Bloodforge was limited. Yet, they held no favorable impression of him.

...

A breath later, Wu Yuan's mana body appeared out of thin air in a realm of endless darkness alongside Devil Sovereign Bloodforge.

The Bloodforge Spacetime.

Wu Yuan's eyes darkened. Beneath the seemingly calm spacetime in the distance, he sensed a hidden layer of spacetime, spanning a massive expanse.

Within the entire Greenridge Macrocosm, little could escape his perception.

"We've arrived already? The Bloodforge Spacetime didn't even guide us in." Devil Sovereign Bloodforge stood beside Wu Yuan, his mind filled with astonishment.

His reverence for Wu Yuan grew even deeper. Truly befitting of an Overlord!

"Open the passage, unless you want me to force my way in?" Wu Yuan said with a faint smile.

"The Overlord jests," Devil Sovereign Bloodforge chuckled, summoning several streaks of light with a gesture.

Swiftly, a massive spacetime rift appeared in the distant void.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan and Devil Sovereign Bloodforge stepped into the spacetime rift, which promptly closed behind them.

1. 一招鲜，吃遍天。The meaning of this idiom is that if you excel at one particular skill or have one especially effective strategy, you can use it to succeed in many different situations or areas of life. It suggests that specialization and mastery of a single technique can be more valuable than being a jack-of-all-trades. ☜