Chapter 1030: The Five Steps Of Eternity, Legend Of The Heavenly Venerable (2)

"Wu Yuan, we shall now share some truths with you," the white-robed boy Bai Sui slowly began to speak. His voice was childish, but his eyes held a reminiscent look. "It was a very, very long time ago... Throughout the passing of samsara cycles of heaven and earth, the vast cosmic sea remained eternally unchanging, while the Dao Masters always stood at the pinnacle.

“The strength of the Dao Masters was equivalent to the Dao Zenithels, Fourth-step Eternals. They were also the first batch of Dao Zenithel existences. You should know this," Bai Sui said.

Dao Zenithel? Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

He had some understanding of this information from the Taiyuan Divine Court's intelligence archives after his qi refiner self became an Overlord. However, the descriptions were rather vague.

There were five stages of the Overlord level.

Eternal lifeforms were similarly divided into five stages by numerous eternal beings over many samsara cycles. These are also known as the five steps of eternity.

The first step of eternity was the Perennial stage. Those at this stage were the weakest eternal beings. The vast majority were naturally-born eternal lifeforms, or universe-born lifeforms who achieved eternity through Stowing Away. Fourth-stage Overlords could generally match them.

The second step of eternity was the Dao Pioneer stage. This was a stage that 99.9% of eternal beings could not reach. It represented truly forging one's own unique Dao based on the foundations of the Great Dao one comprehended. Legendary fifth-stage Overlords could barely compare to eternal lifeforms at this stage.

The third step of eternity, the True Saint stage, represented perfecting one's Dao to an extremely powerful degree. The rulers of various Saintdoms across many universes, such as True Saint Bu Xiu, True Saint Taiyuan, True Saint Hui Mie and others, were all at this stage. They could already be considered peak powerhouses of the boundless megaverse, reaching heights unattainable by countless eternal lifeforms. Those who could be called Saints among Eternals were extremely rare. [1]

The fourth step of eternity, the Dao Zenithel stage, represented advancing one's Dao to an inconceivable degree. It also represented a limit for eternal lifeforms that could hardly be surpassed or exceeded. The Dao Masters, as well as Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang, and the Heavenly Imperator of the Immortal Court were all at this stage.

The fifth step of eternity? Some powerhouses called it the Origin stage, signifying the beginning of all things. Some called it the Heavenly Venerable stage, signifying walking alongside heaven and being equal in status to the Primordium. Some called it the Apex Strength stage, signifying an invincible level.

There had never been an agreed-upon name for this stage. Because, according to the intelligence archives of the Taiyuan Divine Court, no true fifth-step Eternal had ever emerged in the boundless megaverse. It was merely speculation by many eternal lifeforms that there should be a higher stage beyond the Dao Zenithel stage.

Based on the intelligence Wu Yuan knew, the Origin Saint might be the fifth-step Eternal. But this could not be verified.

The fifth step of eternity may not purely be theoretical. Those eternal lifeforms who believe the fifth step can be taken likely have some basis for their hypothesis.

Wu Yuan mused silently.

Perhaps when I achieve eternity and meet Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Spacetime Dao Master, I'll gain access to more secrets.

It was difficult to learn more without reaching that level himself.

It was difficult to conceal various secrets among mortal and sempiternal lifeforms since there were so many powerhouses and intelligence was widespread. Meanwhile, eternal lifeforms were unimaginably strong and lived for eons. Many eternal lifeforms possessed great secrets unknown to others.

“The Dao Zenithel stage is extremely difficult to reach.” As Wu Yuan pondered, Bai Sui continued, "The earliest Dao Masters were able to reach the Dao Zenithel stage, but in reality they all took shortcuts, borrowing the power of the Great Dao's essence rather than relying on themselves.

“But for other eternal lifeforms who forged new Daos entirely by themselves, taking the third step was already extremely difficult, let alone advancing to the ultimate zenith of their Daos.” Bai Sui sighed, "Therefore, my master was quite excited when he first became a Dao Master."

Wu Yuan nodded lightly. If he were able to leap from the Perennial stage to Dao Zenithel stage, he would likely be incredibly thrilled as well.

"For eons, the Dao Masters stood at the very pinnacle," Bai Sui mused. "They explored the cosmic sea, spreading the civilization of cultivation across various universes. Many naturally-born eternal lifeforms willingly followed them, hoping to receive their guidance. As universe-born lifeforms grew, more and more True Saint-stage eternals appeared. Yet this still could not affect the Dao Masters.

“That was, until the appearance of Nüwa!" Bai Sui declared solemnly.

Nüwa?

Wu Yuan was taken aback.

In the myths of his previous life, Nüwa also existed as the creator of humanity, the most ancient goddess, revered for generations.

"Goddess Nüwa was the first eternal being to reach the Dao Zenithel stage through her own power," Bai Sui explained slowly. "And upon entering the Dao Zenithel stage, she created the human race. This race quickly spread and multiplied across many universes. The human race had astonishing talent and rose to prominence rapidly, but that's not the important part.

“What's important is that Goddess Nüwa defeated several Dao Masters in quick succession, quickly becoming recognized as the number one powerhouse of the cosmic sea by many eternal lifeforms," said Bai Sui.

Number one powerhouse of the cosmic sea? Wu Yuan held his breath. What an incredible title. To make even the Dao Masters admit defeat?

"It was from that time that the Dao Masters finally understood that although they were masters of the Great Dao, wielding their Authority, the Daos they had pioneered all had fatal flaws," Bai Sui shook his head slightly, sighing. "What is not forged by oneself ultimately does not belong to oneself."

Wu Yuan remained silent, listening attentively.

Bai Sui continued, "Whereas Goddess Nüwa, who grew entirely through her own strength, forged a Dao that belonged completely to her. She had incomparable power, allowing her to defeat numerous Dao Masters.

“From that time on, powerhouses like my master began to have ideas about further perfecting their Daos," Bai Sui shook his head lightly. "But he soon discovered that relying on the Great Dao's essence meant being constrained by it. The flaw was present from the moment he forged his Dao, destined to be imperfect."

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.

For those Dao Masters, realizing this point must have been incredibly disheartening.

"Of course, when the Dao Masters speak of weakness, it's only relative to those eternal beings who reached the Dao Zenithel stage through their own power," Bai Sui said. "They still far surpass True Saints."

Wu Yuan nodded lightly.

Even the weakest Dao Zenithel was still a Dao Zenithel, not someone True Saints could compare to.

"What about Goddess Nüwa?" Wu Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"She disappeared," Bai Sui shook his head. "Legend has it that Goddess Nüwa vanished shortly after creating the human race... Of course, this information may not be true. My power is weak, and Master never spoke of it in detail, so I'm not certain."

"Disappeared?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

"The human race multiplied rapidly, growing ever stronger, giving rise to one eternal being after another. The earliest human Eternals gathered together, forming the rudimentary form of the Eldritch Court," Bai Sui explained. "However, over the long ages, many human Eternals also roamed freely on their own, unwilling to be governed by the Eldritch Court."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

The human race? The Eldritch Court? This wasn't surprising. Although there were legends of the twelve Eldritch Progenitors in the myths of his previous life, those were ultimately just legends. The two worlds didn't align perfectly.

Eldritch - one who stands between heaven and earth. This was the philosophy of the Eldritch Court. As far as Wu Yuan knew, the Eldritch Court was no longer purely a human faction, with many eternal beings of other races within its ranks.

"The Eldritch Court was not initially the dominant force you see today, ruling large domains in the cosmic sea," Bai Sui mused. "Not until the birth of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu."

"Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu?" Wu Yuan murmured.

"Yes. You’re a member of the Eldritch Court, so you should have heard of her," Bai Sui said. "She is truly an existence standing at the absolute pinnacle, renowned as one of the beings closest to the fifth step of Eternity.

“With the power of the Dao she pioneered, she suppressed the essence of a universe, forcefully resisting the backlash of the River of Universes, and forcibly ended the samsara cycle of that universe," Bai Sui marveled. "This allowed the Eldritch Court to completely occupy that universe, which became the Eldritch Court Universe.

“Of course, she only managed to prevent the universe's essence from continuing its cycle, not make the lifeforms of the Eldritch Court Universe eternal. But this was already astonishing enough.

“When other universes undergo samsara, the entire universe would be utterly destroyed. The machinations of various Dao Masters and True Saints would come to naught, everything starting anew. But in the Eldritch Court Universe, only living beings would perish. The macrocosm and outer space remains. When the cycle restarts, countless lifeforms can be quickly bred, all under her dominion.

“Thus, the Eldritch Court flourished!" Bai Sui marveled. "Later, through some unknown divine abilities, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu enabled the True Saints of the Eldritch Court to infiltrate various universes with great ease, establishing branch Saintdoms. And thus, the Eldritch Court finally became one of the greatest factions."

Wu Yuan was left breathless.

It was truly inconceivable. To halt the samsara cycle of a universe and resist the backlash of the River of Universes with the power of one's Dao? Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu truly deserved to be called the one who single-handedly brought the Eldritch Court to its current heights.

"Over countless ages and many samsara cycles of heaven and earth, only the Heavenly Imperator of the Immortal Court could keep pace with Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu," Bai Sui said softly. "Legend has it that the Dao pioneered by the Heavenly Imperator is tailored toward killing and is more domineering... But you need only know these matters in broad strokes."

Wu Yuan nodded lightly.

He was still only a sempiternal lifeform. The deeds of those at the pinnacle of eternity were far, far beyond him. Even if he became a Dao Master, he would still not match Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator.

"According to Master, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator are likely very close to taking the fifth step," Bai Sui said softly. "Master had thought it through. If he remained a Dao Master, he would never be able to break free from the shackles of the Great Dao. Forget about taking the fifth step - he wouldn’t even be able to approach Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, the Heavenly Imperator, and the others.

“Therefore, Master created the Creation Dao Realm and began his own plan." Bai Sui said.

“The plan to perish," Bai Sui looked at Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan now understood. A Dao Master could be said to stand at the pinnacle of many eternal beings. Some Dao Masters might be content with this power and status, but the Creation Dao Master clearly had loftier aspirations. He too yearned to be like Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator, or even stronger.

But why does he also want to shed his identity as an Ancestral Pagoda Archon?

Wu Yuan wondered inwardly.

But he couldn't ask. Clearly, the secrets that Bai Sui knew were all relayed by the Creation Dao Master, and the Creation Dao Master obviously hadn't told him the secrets of the Ancestral Pagoda.

"Every Dao Master can be said to be undying and indestructible. As masters of the Great Daos, they possess many powers that other Dao Zenithels do not," Bai Sui said. "As the Creation Dao Master, even Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator cannot hope to kill Master."

Wu Yuan listened silently.

"So, Master committed suicide," Bai Sui said matter-of-factly.

"Suicide?" Wu Yuan was stunned.

"Although he committed suicide, if Master wills it, he can still revive. This is the terrifying aspect of Dao Zenithels," Bai Sui said calmly. "However, once revived, he still cannot escape his identity as the master of a Great Dao."

Wu Yuan held his breath.

How heaven-defying! To commit suicide, yet be able to revive at will? More accurately, the Creation Dao Master was in a state of false death, right?

"There is only one way – the emergence of a new Dao Master," Bai Sui looked at Wu Yuan and said, "Only when a new Dao Master is born can he truly break free.

“Finally, you’ve arrived."

1. True Saint Bu Xiu = Immutable True Saint, True Saint Hui Mie = Desolation True Saint ☜