Chapter 1109: Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's Guidance (2)

"Wait until I've pioneered my own Dao?" Wu Yuan was stunned.

He vaguely understood Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's intentions, but couldn't fully grasp it at the moment.

"Don't worry, I won't harm you," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said calmly.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded respectfully.

"Though you're disguised as Devil Emperor Xia right now, you should know that one’s soul aura cannot be concealed," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said softly. "In the future, once those Abyss Devil Emperors encounter you again, they'll recognize you."

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement.

Indeed, this was a major flaw. The identity of Devil Emperor Xia couldn't be concealed forever, unless he never encountered any Abyss Devil Emperor again.

But that was clearly unrealistic. Whether roaming the cosmic sea or exploring the Xuanhuang Cosmiris, he would inevitably encounter them sooner or later. Moreover, True Saint Ji Guang and True Saint Yue Luo were both well aware of his soul aura.

"The later you're exposed, the better," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu glanced at Wu Yuan. "In the coming years, before entering the Xuanhuang Cosmiris, it's best if your body refiner self doesn't enter the cosmic sea.

"Within the River of Universes, with your strength and my protection, you'll be absolutely safe.

"Once you enter the cosmic sea, the situation will be hard to predict," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said softly.

There was something she left unsaid – even she couldn't guarantee Wu Yuan's safety. After all, if Wu Yuan's numerous exploits were exposed now, it would drive the upper echelons of the Immortal Court into a frenzy. They would spare no effort to prevent the birth of an enemy Dao Zenithel Eternal.

Though Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu didn’t fear such conflict, it would still give her a headache. Moreover, at this crucial juncture, she didn't want to ignite a Dao Zenithel war.

"This disciple will keep it in mind," Wu Yuan's heart tightened.

Years ago, when he had just become a Saintcrest Prodigy, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had said she could shield him from all storms.

Now, his strength grew ever greater, and he could be called a powerhouse even in the vast cosmic sea. Yet even the mighty Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu found it difficult to offer complete protection.

This was the price of power.

One day, I'll ensure the Eldritch Progenitor no longer needs to protect me.

Wu Yuan silently vowed.

Not just within the River of Universes, but throughout the endless cosmic sea as well.

Someday, he too would stand at the pinnacle of the cosmic sea, just like Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu.

"Oh, right." Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu suddenly said, "When you return, remember to pay the three thousand Xuanhuang merits you owe."

"Eldritch Progenitor, didn't you say you’d wait until after my return from the Xuanhuang Cosmiris?" Wu Yuan was startled.

"You've slain an Eternal, so your gains must be substantial," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's face bore an enigmatic smile. "Consider it a contribution to the Eldritch Court."

Wu Yuan smiled wryly.

Was she really a Eldritch Progenitor? How petty.

"Go now," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu waved her hand, and Wu Yuan's avatar vanished from the hall.

The hall fell silent once more.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's smile faded as her gaze returned to the black box before her.

This was no mere box. Within it lay an endless, dark expanse filled with countless galaxies, teeming with innumerable lifeforms – a vast universe was held within this simple box.

Looking at it, one would find it difficult to discern whether this was the voidrealm or reality.

Creating matter from the void. Creating matter from a thought! Manifesting spirit in the voidrealm.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu pondered silently.

This universe I've created in the voidrealm has countless lifeforms, with their joys and sorrows. There are numerous cultivators roaming within, and the strongest among them rival Overlords... They are illusory, yet all their thoughts and feelings are real.

If this information were to spread, it would undoubtedly leave countless eternal powerhouses dumbfounded, unable to even imagine such a feat. Creating true spirits within illusion?

Only samsara remains.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's eyes flickered with an ethereal light.

The source of all beginnings, before all Primordiums.

The end of samsara. It's something this universe of mine still cannot create.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu frowned slightly.

She had cultivated for countless eons, arguably coming to know all secrets of the cosmic sea, truly standing at the zenith of Dao Zenithels. Only the Heavenly Imperator had the qualifications to stand beside her.

Figures like Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang, Great Emperor Yan Tuo, and Dao Zenithel Wan Yu were very close to their level. But they were still a hair's breadth away, forever separated by that final, insurmountable gap.

If samsara is perfected, transforming this illusory universe into reality, turning the imagined real in a single thought... Perhaps I could finally take the fifth step.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu murmured to herself.

The fifth stage. It existed only in the imaginations of countless eternal powerhouses, the final step of Eternals. Alas, since the Primordial Era, the fifth stage had remained purely theoretical. Not a single being had ever achieved it.

Origin Saint, Azure Saint... Did you manage it?

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu sighed softly, gently closing the box.

...

After bidding farewell to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, Wu Yuan spent a month traveling from the Violet Night Universe back to the Ling Jiang Universe.

He headed straight for the Greenridge Macrocosm.

Swiftly, he arrived in the spacetime outside the Ming Jian Realm, where a white-robed figure soon appeared, tearing through spacetime.

His two true selves were reunited once more.

Whoosh!

His mana body and ether body flew out, arriving beside his qi refiner self, before being swiftly absorbed into a grotto-heaven artifact.

It’ll be highly inconvenient to use the identity of Devil Emperor Xia for now, best not to reveal it carelessly.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

So, in the coming years, my body refiner self should focus on quiet cultivation.

He had spent a thousand years comprehending the profundities of Abyss’s essence with the Flower of Sin. If he continued to contemplate further, Wu Yuan would still benefit greatly. What he needed now was time.

Pioneer my own Dao? If not in a million years, then ten million, or a hundred million.

Wu Yuan had abundant patience.

Wu Yuan transferred many treasures from his body refiner self to his qi refiner self. Then, his two true selves separated.

Naturally, no one else was aware of these events.

...

In the Ming Jian Realm, at Sovereign Dong Yang's meditation grounds.

As Overlord Ming Jian’s master, he had truly begun to govern the vast territories under the Ming Jian Realm after becoming a Sovereign himself, and his status had skyrocketed.

As Overlord Ming Jian's mana body joined forces with Overlord Wu Yuan in various battles and expeditions, revealing astonishing strength, Sovereign Dong Yang's position rose even higher.

Among the tens of thousands of Sovereigns in the entire Taiyuan Divine Court, Sovereign Dong Yang's power and influence could be ranked in the top hundred.

Whoosh!

Silently, a white-robed figure appeared outside Sovereign Dong Yang's temple.

Hmm?

Sovereign Dong Yang was startled at first, then relaxed.

He took a step and flew out of the temple.

"Master," Wu Yuan smiled at Sovereign Dong Yang. "It's been a long time."

"Yes, tens of thousands of years," Sovereign Dong Yang nodded. "You've emerged from seclusion?"

"Yes," Wu Yuan said. "My recent period of cultivation has yielded some results. Master, you've broken through to become a Sovereign. How have you found these hundred thousand years?"

"I've only just stabilized my cultivation," Sovereign Dong Yang smiled.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

Though Master Dong Yang's talent was considerable, he could only be considered above average among the countless Sovereigns, far from comparable to most Overlords. Spending several hundred thousand years to stabilize one's cultivation phase was quite common for Sovereigns.

"Master, this disciple has made a fortuitous discovery that may be of assistance to you," Wu Yuan said with a wave of his hand.

A storage artifact materialized out of thin air, flying towards Sovereign Dong Yang.

"This?" Sovereign Dong Yang was taken aback.

"Master, please examine it," Wu Yuan smiled.

Sovereign Dong Yang hesitated for a moment, but still extended his Soul Force to investigate. His probe left him shocked, eyes widening as he stared at Wu Yuan. "A Xiantian artifact? Disciple, you...!"

Sovereign Dong Yang had never seen a Xiantian artifact before. But even if one hasn't eaten pork, surely they've seen a pig run? The trace of eternal aura emitted by the Xiantian artifact was unmistakable.

"Master, please take it. I chose this specifically for you," Wu Yuan said with a smile.

"No, I can't," Sovereign Dong Yang shook his head firmly. "Such a treasure must be incredibly important to you as well."

"I already feel somewhat uneasy about taking so many of your artifacts the last time, but those were merely Dao Instruments. This, however, is a Xiantian artifact," Sovereign Dong Yang said.

A single Xiantian artifact was the stuff of legends among countless Sovereigns, capable of greatly increasing one's power.

"Master, please accept it. It's only a low-grade Xiantian artifact, of no use to this disciple now," Wu Yuan smiled. "My body refiner self has reaped a great harvest while exploring the cosmic sea."

Sovereign Dong Yang was taken aback, unable to help asking, "Really?"

"Of course," Wu Yuan smiled, unconcerned that Sovereign Dong Yang might try to verify his claim.

The cosmic sea was a mystery to ordinary Sovereigns. Much of the news circulating there was beyond their knowledge and information networks.

"Master. This disciple's goal is eternity, and on the path to achieving it, I'd rather not be overly distracted," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "But this disciple sincerely hopes that in the future, Master can become as powerful as possible.

"This Xiantian artifact will not only make Master stronger. But more importantly, it contains the complete profundities of the Great Dao of Creation, which can guide Master forward. Please take it."

With matters put so plainly, Sovereign Dong Yang let out a long sigh before accepting.

"Master, there's no need to feel burdened," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "This is what a disciple should do. However, before you reach the fourth-stage Sovereign level, you must not take it outside the Ming Jian Realm."

Without mid-stage Sovereign strength, one couldn't perfectly conceal a Xiantian artifact's aura. Bringing it out would only invite trouble.

"I understand," Sovereign Dong Yang nodded repeatedly.

With that, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self quietly departed, leaving behind Sovereign Dong Yang with a complex expression.

What level has my disciple truly reached?

Sovereign Dong Yang mused inwardly.

To be able to give away even Xiantian artifacts?

It all felt like a dream to him.

I can't tell anyone about this Xiantian artifact.

Sovereign Dong Yang waved his hand, storing it away.

...

Not long after, Wu Yuan's two true selves also gave a Xiantian artifact each to Sovereign Bei You and Sovereign Kua Chi, both of whom were equally shocked.

In the end, after Wu Yuan's persuasion, they reluctantly accepted.

Wu Yuan also made gestures to some close friends like Sovereign Heng Yang, Sovereign Cang Feng, Sovereign Zi Yang and others. But he didn't go so far as to give them Xiantian artifacts.

In the Greenridge Macrocosm, within the Yuan Realm, inside that vast and endless temple belonging to Wu Yuan.

A colossal figure nine million li tall sat upon the throne, gazing down upon the realm.

Much karma has been settled. The burdens of destiny have all lightened considerably.

Wu Yuan murmured to himself.

I hope Master, Grandmaster and the others can all achieve success.

Wu Yuan had already helped them by providing teachings, artifacts, and even some Dao comprehension opportunities in the universe. As an Overlord powerhouse, Wu Yuan had done all he could.

But whether Sovereign Dong Yang, Sovereign Bei You, and the others could ultimately become Overlords themselves or even create limitbreak Overlord ultimate techniques still depended on their own talents and fortunes.

Only 150,000 years till the Xuanhuang Cosmiris begins.

Wu Yuan's body refiner self gently closed his eyes.

News of the Xuanhuang Cosmiris had long spread throughout the vast megaverse, common knowledge among countless major powers.

150,000 years was a very long time. But for Wu Yuan, the Xuanhuang Cosmiris no longer held much of a challenge. Since slaying Saint Hong Yun, his gaze had already extended beyond the River of Universes. Instead, he had begun to focus on eternity. What Wu Yuan valued were some of the opportunities found within the Xuanhuang Cosmiris itself.

However, when the Xuanhuang Cosmiris opens, I wouldn’t mind slaughtering Overlord Yue Shan and the others if it's convenient.

Wu Yuan gradually emptied his mind as he began his secluded cultivation.

At his level, a single meditation session could last a hundred thousand or even a million years.

...

As Wu Yuan's body refiner self began his seclusion...

In the Ling Jiang Universe, deep in the distant reaches of spacetime, countless dazzling stars shone.

Brilliantly resplendent, this expanse of outer space held many hospitable planets with flourishing cultivation civilizations.

Yet outer space remained desolate.

Whoosh~

Spacetime rippled slightly as a beautiful figure in purple robes appeared.

"Young Master," Sovereign Lan Yan called out with delight, swiftly flying over.

"You've arrived," Wu Yuan's mana body smiled faintly.

This region of outer space was very close to the Spacetime Dao Realm.

"Young Master's mana body has come to the Dao Realm..." Sovereign Lan Yan was about to inquire.

"You've broken through?" Wu Yuan suddenly asked.

Sovereign Lan Yan was startled, looking at Wu Yuan with some shock. She had done her utmost to conceal her aura. Yet it was still detected?

"Haha." Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile. "Though you've hidden your aura, destiny’s guidance doesn't lie. That faint trace of eternal Dao resonance can't be faked.

"Lan Yan, congratulations on breaking through to the ninth-level Dao Field stage in the Great Dao of Spacetime," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "It appears my arrival is quite timely.

"Here’s a gift for you," Wu Yuan turned his palm, handing over a storage artifact.