Chapter 1032: A Foundation Of A Thousand Daos, Pioneering A Dao

The nine war sabers erupted with power. Each one reached the pinnacle of mid-grade Xiantian artifacts, their combined might rivaling even a high-grade Xiantian artifact.

How terrifying was their power? The vast heaven and earth trembled, and other treasures in the area floated and drifted as if on a turbulent sea. Layers of creation Dao patterns manifested on the nine sabers, exuding an aura of grand and sharp eternal Dao resonance.

The radiance of the blades was so intense it seemed capable of cleaving the vast universe in two, causing even Wu Yuan's heart to quiver.

"Wu Yuan, the sabers have been unsheathed. Quickly, claim ownership," Bai Sui's voice echoed in Wu Yuan's mind.

Wu Yuan, already focused, split his Yuan Soul into nine streams, each flowing into the Dao essence core of a saber.

The Dao essences instinctively resisted. Even an Overlord would struggle to make a single mid-grade Xiantian artifact submit, let alone nine.

Boom!

With a mere thought from Wu Yuan, the projection of the Ancestral Pagoda appeared within his internal world. Crimson light radiated outward, piercing through his body and into the external world.

Though devoid of the Ancestral Pagoda's aura, it imbued Wu Yuan with a transcendent, supreme pressure that completely subdued the Dao essences of all nine sabers.

The process was seamless. The sabers' radiance dissipated, their eternal Dao resonance receding as Wu Yuan completed the ownership claiming process, establishing a subtle connection with each of the nine blades.

"Master."

"Oh! Oh! We have a master now. We can finally leave this place."

"Master." A chorus of childlike voices resonated in Wu Yuan's spirit, brimming with affection. These were the spirits of the nine sabers.

Worlds could possess spirits, as could arrays and artifacts. Anything with an essence could potentially give rise to a spirit under the rules of the essence’s operation. The power of these spirits varied, and their knowledge and perspective depended on what information their masters imparted to them.

These nine sabers are Xiantian artifacts, with self-awareness rivaling late-stage Sovereigns, yet they seem so innocent.

Wu Yuan mused.

It seems Bai Sui spoke true—the Creation Dao Master likely placed them here immediately after forging them.

Thus, even after eons, the spirits of the nine sabers remained childlike.

"Do you have names?" Wu Yuan inquired.

"No, Master."

"Since our birth from the Dao essence, we've had no names. We just call ourselves Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother..."

"Master, please give us names." The nine saber spirits chirped excitedly, as though they were Wu Yuan's own children.

Once claimed, the spirits of artifacts naturally bonded with their master. Moreover, Wu Yuan was the first master these nine sabers had known since their creation, making them even more attached.

"Very well." Wu Yuan grinned, pondering briefly. "From this day forward, you shall be called Mo Yuan."

Mo, meaning black, befitted the sabers' appearance. Yuan, representing origin and beginning. [1]

This name held special significance for Wu Yuan. It marked him taking his first true step on the path of comprehending the Primordial Rules in the Creation Dao Realm. It also referenced the Origin Saint, the mysterious, invincible being connected to many of Wu Yuan's opportunities and treasures. Naming the sabers thus served as both a commemoration and a reminder to himself. [2]

"Yay!"

"From now on, I'm Big Brother Mo Yuan."

"I'm Second Brother Mo Yuan." The nine saber spirits quickly established their pecking order.

Wu Yuan smiled faintly.

With a soft hum, Wu Yuan's body refiner self instantly grew to a towering height of ten thousand zhangs, deploying various grand ether arts as nine arms sprouted from his body.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The nine Mo Yuan Sabers flew from their sheaths, their blades slicing through space, causing it to ripple like water.

This sight filled Wu Yuan with even greater awe at their power. Compared to the Mo Yuan Sabers, the Black Rock Saber seemed weak and unremarkable.

Truly worthy of being called weapons that can rival a high-grade Xiantian artifact as a set.

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

With each additional saber he grasped, the pressure Wu Yuan had to bear rose.

Finally, with all nine sabers in hand, it felt as if nine super powerhouses were simultaneously unleashing their full pressure upon him.

If Wu Yuan were merely a body refiner Astral Monarch, he could never have withstood this, no matter how deep his Dao comprehension. Fortunately, he was also a Matter Sovereign.

The pressure is even greater than that of the Azure Origin Armor.

Wu Yuan inwardly marveled.

And this is with me fully restraining and containing their power.

If the pressure on their owner is already this intense, the power when fully unleashed must be even more terrifying.

This set of sabers alone is enough to dramatically enhance my offensive capabilities.

Wu Yuan silently sensed the Dao patterns within the Dao essences of the Mo Yuan Sabers.

There should be five layers of Dao patterns. If all are unleashed, even a Dao Pioneer Eternal would find it suitable for usage.

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.

For a sempiternal lifeform like me? It’s more than enough.

This is undoubtedly the most powerful offensive weapon I've ever possessed.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Mo Yuan Sabers. Either you'll accompany me in breaking through samsara to achieve eternity," Wu Yuan murmured, his fingertips gently caressing the blade edges, "or you'll sink into oblivion with me."

This was a complete set of weapons that could accompany Wu Yuan all the way to eternity.

For defense, I have the Azure Origin Armor. For offense, I have the Mo Yuan Sabers.

Wu Yuan's eyes gleamed.

Throughout the vast megaverse, even the vast majority of those Overlords standing at the pinnacle don't possess such powerful artifacts.

Most Overlords would be considered extraordinary if they had three or four low-grade Xiantian artifacts. How could they compare to Wu Yuan's terrifying arsenal?

In the future, we'll see just how far I can push their capabilities.

Wu Yuan waved his hand, storing all nine Mo Yuan Sabers.

...

"He actually claimed ownership by himself." Hong Qin stood at a distance, watching in astonishment. "Those were nine mid-grade Xiantian artifacts. That aura Wu Yuan exuded just now?”

"Truly formidable! I had originally planned to help him subdue the sabers' Dao essences to assist him. I never expected him to accomplish it so easily on his own," Bai Sui said softly. "It seems Wu Yuan still has secrets unknown to us. Someone with the potential to become a Dao Master can’t be simple."

Hong Qin nodded slightly.

Both of them, being naturally-born eternal lifeforms, had grown accustomed to looking down on sempiternal lifeforms over their long lives. After all, even Overlords as powerful as them would ultimately be erased with the passage of time if they were unable to break free from the shackles of samsara.

But just by channeling a trace of the Ancestral Pagoda's essence, Wu Yuan had made their hearts tremble.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan flew over from the distance: "Bai Sui, Hong Qin, I've made my choice."

Though he still coveted the other treasures, Wu Yuan understood that a bird in hand was worth two in the bush. Further greed would be pointless.

"Very well," Bai Sui nodded. "Wu Yuan, the second reward the Dao Master prepared for you is the 'Thousand Daos Realm'. It's the location where the Dao Master made the most meticulous preparations. Even we realm keepers find it difficult to enter. You'll have to explore what exactly lies within by yourself."

"Alright, send me there then." Wu Yuan nodded.

Hum~

A ripple of spacetime enveloped Wu Yuan, causing him to vanish.

...

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan felt the surrounding void tremble slightly, and he found himself in another realm.

This made him realize that although he had taken the first step towards becoming a Dao Master, he had not yet truly become the master of the Creation Dao Realm. Most of the realm's authority was still controlled by the realm keepers.

Thousand Daos Realm?

Wu Yuan's gaze swept across his surroundings. He now stood on a jade platform about ten zhangs in diameter, with an endless dark void beneath his feet.

In the void surrounding the platform floated dense clusters of bamboo scrolls. There were more than a thousand bundles of scrolls, each emanating a hazy radiance that instilled an involuntary sense of longing in the observer.

Dao radiance? These bamboo scrolls all emit Dao radiance?

Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.

I clearly sense that these scrolls seem unremarkable, just like ordinary bamboo, yet they possess eternal Dao radiance? What's inside them?

Whoosh!

As Wu Yuan pondered in confusion and amazement, a hazy light appeared, followed by an elderly man with white hair, dressed in scholarly robes. He was merely a projection.

Holding a bamboo scroll, he stood slightly hunched not far from the jade platform, smiling as he gazed at Wu Yuan.

A single glance involuntarily reminded Wu Yuan of a figure from ancient mythology in his previous life—Old Ran. The resemblance was striking. [3]

"Senior," Wu Yuan bowed slightly, his attitude respectful.

"There’s no need to address me as ‘Senior’. I am merely a spirit," the white-haired elderly man said with a smile. "I was nurtured into existence over countless ages by the gathering of these Dao scrolls.

"I thought no living being would ever enter the Thousand Daos Realm, yet my wait was shorter than expected," the white-haired elderly man looked at Wu Yuan. "For a mere sempiternal lifeform to arrive here, it seems you've already become a Dao Master candidate."

"Senior is perceptive," Wu Yuan said.

"Let's sit down, and I'll explain in detail," the white-haired elderly man smiled.

Wu Yuan nodded, sitting on the jade platform.

The two sat in the lotus position, as if about to discuss the Dao.

"The Dao Master should have mentioned the method to break free from the predicament in his inheritance, right?" the white-robed elderly man asked.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded lightly. "The Dao Master did speak of it, but this junior still has many doubts. I hope Senior can enlighten me."

Over the two thousand years Wu Yuan spent merging with the Great Dao's Authority, the lingering consciousness of the Creation Dao Master imparted a few crucial messages to him.

Besides informing him of the guardian treasure and other minor benefits he would receive, the most vital piece of information was guidance on how to break free from the Dao Master's predicament!

Wielding the Great Dao's Authority was a double-edged sword, capable of swiftly transforming a first-step Eternal into a fourth-step Eternal who stood at the pinnacle of eternal life. Yet it would also trap one there, making further progress nigh impossible, just like the Creation Dao Master who had found no hope of advancement for countless eons. Left with no choice, he sought life through death!

In truth, the Creation Dao Master's state was far more complex than mere false death or slumber. How else could it so easily deceive the essence of the Great Dao?

Thus, while Bai Sui claimed the Creation Dao Master could revive at will, Wu Yuan retained a sliver of doubt. The more one interacted with the Great Dao's essence, the more one understood its unfathomable power.

However, Wu Yuan was not yet capable of delving deeper into its mysteries.

The Creation Dao Master's guidance to him boiled down to a single sentence - before breaking the cycle of samsara, pioneer your own Dao!

But how exactly could he accomplish this? The Creation Dao Master's message didn't elaborate, and Wu Yuan had been pondering this very question.

"In the future, once you achieve eternity, the Great Dao's Authority will gradually influence your perception, aiding you in swiftly pioneering a Dao. This process is irreversible," the white-robed elderly man explained.

"The Dao pioneered with the aid of a Great Dao's essence is incomparably powerful, propelling you rapidly to the fourth step. But this Dao is too heavily influenced by Great Dao's essence. The fourth step becomes your limit."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

"If you wish to progress further, you must pioneer your own Dao before fully bearing the Great Dao's Authority," the white-robed elderly man said gravely.

"Thus, with your Dao already forged and your path set, when you then strive for eternity, the Great Dao's Authority will struggle to sway you, only helping you further refine your forged Dao.

"Ultimately, you'll become a Dao Master, but the Authority will be unable to hinder the continued advancement of your Dao," the white-robed elderly man concluded solemnly.

Wu Yuan understood.

He couldn't help but marvel at the Creation Dao Master's ingenious plan. Indeed, the Great Dao's Authority would influence the pioneering of one's Dao, ultimately making it impossible to break free from its influence. Therefore, pioneering one's Dao in advance was the solution.

"Many naturally-born eternal lifeforms find it extremely difficult to pioneer their own Dao. How am I, a sempiternal lifeform, supposed to accomplish this?" Wu Yuan asked softly.

"Pioneering one's Dao in advance is indeed challenging," the white-robed elderly man nodded. "According to the Dao Master's guidance, before his fall and the setting of his plans in motion, the only sempiternal lifeform to successfully pioneer their own Dao was the Heavenly Imperator of the Immortal Court. Even Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu hadn't achieved this feat."

"The Heavenly Imperator?" Wu Yuan murmured.

The Heavenly Imperator! Again, it was the Heavenly Imperator!

In an instant, Wu Yuan understood why the Heavenly Imperator had been able to forge the legend of slaying Dao Pioneers. It turned out that even when the Heavenly Imperator was still an Overlord, his level of Dao cultivation already rivaled, or perhaps even surpassed, that of Dao Pioneer Eternals!

It was precisely because of this lofty attainment, coupled with the advantage of being within the river of space and time, that the Heavenly Imperator was able to slay his opponent.

"The origin of all things lies in the Primordial Rules," the white-robed elderly man continued. "Be it the eternal Great Daos of the path of Laws, or the nine branches of the path of matter, all are part of the Primordial Rules. Yet the Primordial Rules can only ever be approached, but never reached. They are like chaos, like the origin and end, like the infinite future."

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.

Indeed! Eternity was singular, a truth that applied not only to sempiternal lifeforms but to eternal lifeforms as well.

In theory, after fully comprehending one Great Dao, eternal lifeforms could also cultivate matter profundities and other Great Daos, but truly mastering multiple paths was incredibly difficult.

The Primordial Rules, however, encompassed everything.

Primordium! Its absolute supremacy was no empty claim. Even beings as powerful as fourth-step Eternals like Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator paled in comparison to the all-encompassing Primordial Rules. Or rather, they weren't even qualified for comparison.

"Eternal lifeforms must pioneer their own Dao based on the eternal Dao they've comprehended," the white-robed elderly man explained slowly. "Only that which is your own can reach the peak of strength, truly rivaling the Primordium and breaking all constraints.

"And if you wish to break free from the Great Dao's Authority's constraints, the Dao you pioneer must be even more extraordinary than usual.

"That is why the Dao Master left behind the Thousand Daos Realm," the white-robed elderly man said, gesturing towards bamboo scrolls floating in the void.

"Each bamboo scroll represents the profundities of a self-created Dao, pioneered by an eternal lifeform based on the Creation Dao.

"One thousand one hundred and twenty-five Dao Pioneer Eternals.

“Sixty-seven True Saint Eternals.

"These Daos will be your foundation, to aid you in pioneering your own Dao," the white-robed elderly man looked at Wu Yuan.

1. 墨 Mo, means ink. 源 Yuan, is the same as in Saint Yuan/the Origin Saint ☜

2. Our dear MC has come so far from naming Little Black.

Wipes a tear

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3. Referring to Lao Zi/Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%80%81%E5%AD%90/5448

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