Chapter 1026: Completion, Ancestral Pagoda Archon (2)

"Overlord Ming Jian's reputation spreads far and wide. I wonder how Wu Yuan is doing," Overlord Ming Zhun suddenly sighed. "The Eldritch Progenitor said he hasn't perished, but there's been no news of him for over ten thousand years."

"Wu Yuan?" Overlord Huan Jin was taken aback.

"Ah, back then at the Megaverse Crossroads, he and Zhu Shan were both clearly more dazzling than Ming Jian," Overlord Ming Zhun sighed softly. "Who would have thought they'd both be left so far behind now?"

Overlord Huan Jin was at a loss for words, only able to offer a helpless smile.

On the path of cultivation, being fast for a time doesn't mean always being fast, and always being fast doesn't guarantee living longer.

...

In the Immortal Court Voidrealm, on the Long Shan plane, several towering figures gathered in a majestic temple.

"The dynamics of the war are unmistakably clear. The probability of our Immortal Court winning this inter-Saintdom war is extremely high," rumbled the imposing figure seated on the highest throne, clad in golden armor beneath star-embroidered robes.

His domineering aura was subtly more prominent than the other Overlords in the hall.

"Mm, Long He is right, we're certain to win this war," smiled another man in silver armor.

If Wu Yuan's qi refiner self were here, he would certainly recognize who the man in the star-embroidered robes was.

It was Overlord Long He, the number one Overlord of the Immortal Court’s Long Shan Saintdom, with the strength of a fourth-stage Overlord. In terms of power and reputation, though slightly inferior to Overlord Bei Zhen, he was very close.

"The outcome of the battle is already decided. There's no need to dispatch the late-stage Sovereign legions," Overlord Long He's gaze swept across the Overlords in the hall as he spoke slowly.

"The inter-Saintdom war is now a secondary matter. What truly deserves our attention now is Wu Yuan. Mo Xuan, are you certain there are no errors in your divination results? Is Wu Yuan's true self still in the Abyss Region?" Overlord Long He looked toward the unassuming young man in white robes.

"Yes." Overlord Mo Xuan, who had an immortal-like bearing, spoke calmly, "He's still there. From what I’ve divined, he has remained in the deepest region of the Well of Life for over ten thousand years."

As an Overlord of Destiny, he had sufficient confidence.

"Could he have fallen into the Abyss, unable to escape all this time?" asked a woman in fiery red robes softly.

"We can't rule out that possibility," Overlord Mo Xuan said quietly. "But there's something I must warn you about. In my divinations, his future has become increasingly difficult to predict, his aura growing indistinct, as if it could slip beyond my grasp at any moment."

These words stunned the Overlords in the hall. At their level, they naturally understood Overlord Mo Xuan's meaning – Wu Yuan's strength was evolving!

"Wu Yuan's power is approaching the Overlord level?" Overlord Long He frowned slightly. "So quickly?"

Only Overlords could easily evade Overlord Mo Xuan's probing.

"Isn't Ming Jian from the Ling Jiang Universe already an Overlord?" The silver-armored man frowned. "Back then, they were equally famous. If Wu Yuan is also approaching Overlord strength, it's not surprising."

"It's different." Overlord Mo Xuan nodded slightly. "I've seen the battles of that Overlord Ming Jian in detail. His Dao comprehension should have reached the seventh-level Dao Field stage at most. His combat power is due to many external means. In pure head-on combat, his strength is formidable, but his ability to conceal his fate is insufficient. He cannot avoid my probing.

“According to my divination, Wu Yuan's Dao comprehension, even if it hasn't reached the ninth-level Dao Field stage, is not far from it," said Overlord Mo Xuan.

Immediately, silence fell.

The Overlords in the hall were dumbfounded. Wu Yuan was nearly at the ninth-level Dao Field stage of a Great Dao?

"That's impossible, isn't it?" the woman in fiery red robes said reflexively. "This Wu Yuan has only been cultivating for about a hundred thousand years, right?"

"Reaching ninth-level Dao Field comprehension in a hundred thousand years?"

"Absolutely impossible!"

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The Overlords spoke up one after another, all feeling it was too preposterous.

Each one of them was unparalleled in their era, shaking the entire universe when they rose to power. Because of this, they clearly understood that breaking through each level of the Dao Field stage of a Great Dao was like scaling the gap between heaven and earth.

It was very common for some monstrous prodigies to possess Overlord strength early on through various means.

Overlord Bei Zhen and Overlord Long He both attained Overlord strength when their Dao comprehension was at the seventh-level Dao Field stage. To reach ninth-level Dao Field comprehension and climb to the pinnacle among Overlords, it had taken them both an incredibly long time.

"I find it impossible too." Overlord Mo Xuan shook his head slightly. "But my divination results cannot be wrong. If his Dao comprehension is not approaching the eternal level, then it means he has undergone an extreme transformation in some aspects. In either case, it signifies he has become much more powerful. I think we should make early preparations."

The many Overlords fell into contemplation.

"For now, we have no better options," Overlord Long He said in a low voice. "Mo Xuan, continue to conceal Wan Du’s threads of fate. Don't let the Eldritch Court notice.

"Wan Du, you are to continue guarding the Well of Life. Do not leave for now," Overlord Long He continued. "I will report this matter to the Immortal Reverend and request the Immortal Reverends to make a decision."

"Mm."

"Alright." Overlord Mo Xuan and Overlord Wan Du both nodded.

They had no objections.

...

While the Long Shan Saintdom of the Immortal Court had detected changes in Wu Yuan's situation, they were unable to determine the specifics.

Deep within a forbidden area of the Creation Dao Realm, where nearly all forms of perception and probing were obstructed, stood a colossal temple. Towering an astonishing eight light-years in height, it loomed majestically in the boundless expanse of outer space.

"It's been over ten thousand years," the red-robed little girl said. "He's persevered the longest of any of them."

"Indeed." The white-robed little boy nodded slightly. "The previous two failed very quickly. This Wu Yuan is extremely young, yet he passed the first and second stages with incredible speed. He's also persevered the longest in the third stage.

“After such a long time, he may truly succeed," a light flashed in the white-robed boy's eyes.

Initially, he hadn't been very optimistic about Wu Yuan’s chances of success. As an eternal being, he had seen too many brilliant talents over his long years. Although Wu Yuan's body refiner self had shown a dazzling performance, he hadn’t undergone the nine trials of the Creation Dao Master. Thus, the boy thought his chances of failure were high.

Unexpectedly, Wu Yuan had quickly become the most brilliant trial taker, and also the one with the greatest hope in all of history.

"He must succeed," the red-robed girl was delicately beautiful, her eyes also gleaming brightly. "If he succeeds, there will be hope for a new Dao Master. Then, we can awaken those sleeping companions of ours.

“It's been so long since I've returned to the embrace of the mother cosmos." There was endless longing in the red-robed girl's eyes.

...

Deep within this forbidden area of the Creation Dao Realm, inside that mysterious hall that the red-robed girl and white-robed boy could not pry into.

Outside the black pagoda.

He has already borne over forty percent of the imprint.

For over ten thousand years, Origin Spirit had been waiting silently. As time passed, its gaze grew increasingly hopeful.

Very good! Excellent! Only a hair's breadth away.

As long as you bear over fifty percent of the Archaea imprint, the probability of success will exceed ninety percent.

To become an Ancestral Pagoda Archon, one had to bear its Archaea imprint. With less than fifty percent of the imprint, one would be constantly oppressed by the essence of the Ancestral Pagoda. This was the source of the pain and suffering experienced by Wu Yuan's body refiner self.

How many ordinary powerhouses could endure the oppression of the Ancestral Pagoda's essence?

But if one bore over fifty percent of the imprint, the situation would be entirely different. The imprint would coalesce of its own accord, autonomously resisting the oppression of the Ancestral Pagoda's essence. The chances of success would naturally skyrocket. Of course, the prerequisite was persevering until that moment.

I have waited for endless years. You are already the closest one. If even you cannot succeed, how long must I wait for the next?

Origin Spirit shook its head inwardly. It felt a trace of helplessness.

The Creation Dao Master had proactively relinquished his position with his unfathomable divine abilities. What could be done about it?

Within the second floor of the black pagoda.

Endure!

Wu Yuan's body refiner self sat in lotus position as waves of immense power enveloped him. The aura he emanated had grown incredibly intense.

Ten thousand years of torment. This was undoubtedly the most excruciating experience Wu Yuan had ever endured, assailing his flesh, Yuan Soul, and spirit alike, seemingly intent on annihilating the very source of his existence.

Once, at the Megaverse Crossroads, Wu Yuan had faced a destiny attack from Inconstance, a Supreme Genius, and thought it frightening. Now? Wu Yuan found it hardly worth mentioning.

Every moment of the assault Wu Yuan's body refiner self weathered was a hundred, a thousand times stronger than Inconstance's attack. They were simply not in the same league.

Even if it kills me, I must persevere. If I fail, even if resurrected, I will lose my insights into the Great Dao of Creation, drastically reducing the chances of my body refiner self achieving eternity.

Wu Yuan closed his eyes. An endless desire to stand at the pinnacle burned within him.

Another three thousand years passed. Every day, every moment was torture for Wu Yuan.

No! Absolutely not!

At this moment, Wu Yuan's Yuan Soul trembled faintly. Its core had already begun to fracture, showing signs of imminent collapse.

A rubber band pulled time and again would still bounce back, but if pulled too long, too forcefully, it would eventually break. Such was the state of Wu Yuan's body refiner self.

He had persevered, exhausting every means at his disposal. Ten thousand years had tempered his will to extraordinary heights, perhaps not quite matching an Overlord, but likely not far off.

Yet, his cultivation period was still too brief. Be it the capacity of his Yuan Soul or his spirit, though constantly growing, there was ultimately a limit. And now, his endurance had reached that threshold. If the pressure continued unabated, collapse was inevitable!