Chapter 1138: The Name Overlord Ming Jian

Wu Yuan and Saint Dong Luan might only be dispatching their mana or ether bodies to fight, but with the unleashing of their ultimate techniques, their power soared to the Peak Perennial level. In fact, the physical attacks of Wu Yuan’s ether body neared the Threshold Dao Pioneer level.

There was only one outcome from their clash. Unless one was a prodigy like Wu Yuan, skilled in two cultivation paths and possessing formidable physical defense, even an eternal lifeform caught off guard could be in mortal peril after just a few strikes. Previously, Wu Yuan took some time to defeat Saint Hong Yun because that was her true self.

Boom! Boom!

With Saint Ye Xing’s death, shockwaves cascaded through the air, shaking the battlefield.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Both Saint Dong Luan and Saint Jin Jiao snapped into awareness just as Saint Ye Xing met his end. Their Eternal Psyches granted them some resistance against the illusion attacks, enabling them to regain consciousness quickly.

The shock in their eyes mirrored their realization: Saint Ye Xing was no more.

"What kind of power is this?" Saint Jin Jiao muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes wide with fear. "His attack power is nearly at the Threshold Dao Pioneer level. This Devil Emperor Xia is merciless."

Such strength was almost unfathomable. Even a Saint like Zhu Mu, whose true self was at the Peak Dao Pioneer stage, had an ether body only at the Threshold Dao Pioneer level of strength. This indicated that Devil Emperor Xia’s techniques were extraordinarily profound, verging on the Peak Saint level.

Unbeknownst to these Saints, Wu Yuan's ether body hadn't yet pioneered a Dao. His ability to unleash such power was primarily due to cultivating two paths to eternity, allowing him to burst forth with immense physical strength.

Devil Emperor Xia roared, unleashing a cascade of blade rays. The void around them seemed to transform into an abyss as countless shadows emerged, engulfing both Saint Dong Luan and Saint Jin Jiao.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the chaos.

"Overlord Ming Jian, Devil Emperor Xia, we surrender! We yield! Stop!" Saint Dong Luan's voice was a mix of shock and anger.

Instantly, Devil Emperor Xia halted his attack. The blade rays and abyssal shadows that threatened to consume the heavens and earth withdrew, allowing the Saints to fend them off with relative ease.

"Surrender? Then hand over your treasures," Devil Emperor Xia demanded coldly, standing resolutely with his saber in hand.

From afar, Wu Yuan’s mana body and Overlord Lan Yan observed the two Saints with icy stares.

Saint Dong Luan and Saint Jin Jiao were both shocked and infuriated, nervously eyeing Wu Yuan while casting wary glances at Devil Emperor Xia.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

They understood all too well that if the battle continued, Devil Emperor Xia alone could defeat them one by one. Furthermore, Overlord Ming Jian was ready to unleash soul attacks at any moment.

From their understanding, even among Saints, few were capable of such fearsome soul attacks.

"Saints, speak. What are your terms?" Wu Yuan's mana body spoke, his voice indifferent, though with a touch less killing intent.

The two Saints exchanged a glance.

"We are willing to hand over all the treasures we carry," Saint Dong Luan said through gritted teeth. "Additionally, our Que Luo race wishes to resolve our grudges with you, Overlord Ming Jian, and Devil Emperor Xia. Neither side will pursue this matter further."

"Alright. However, neither Devil Emperor Xia nor I will swear a Primordial Oath," Wu Yuan's mana body said coldly.

"Very well, I trust you both," Saint Dong Luan said decisively. Saint Jin Jiao didn't object either.

At the eternal level, few powerhouses were willing to swear Primordial Oaths, most simply relying on reputation. They also believed that both Overlord Ming Jian and Devil Emperor Xia would surely become True Saints in the future. Maintaining a good reputation was certainly important to them.

Swiftly, Saint Dong Luan and Saint Jin Jiao handed over a large quantity of treasures, which were inspected by Devil Emperor Xia.

"Farewell," Saint Dong Luan said in a low voice as he and Saint Jin Jiao transformed into two streaks of light, rapidly departing.

They seemed unwilling to linger even a moment longer than necessary.

...

In the void, only Wu Yuan's mana body, Devil Emperor Xia, and a pile of treasures remained.

Whoosh!

Devil Emperor Xia, carrying the heap of treasures, swiftly flew over to Wu Yuan's mana body and Overlord Lan Yan.

"This? Devil Emperor Xia?" Overlord Lan Yan held her breath as she gazed at the two figures.

Three Saints, even if only mana and ether bodies, should rightfully be able to roam the cosmic sea unfettered, with countless sempiternal lifeforms fleeing at the mere mention of their names.

And yet, in a short life-or-death battle, Ming Jian and Devil Emperor Xia had slain one Saint's ether body and forced two other Saints to concede defeat.

No! It wasn't just two Saints who yielded, but the Que Luo race they represented as well.

Most super factions of the cosmic sea were internally divided into numerous sub-factions. The Que Luo race had nine True Saints in their ranks, making them one of the more powerful factions within the Nine Saints Alliance. Their overall strength far surpassed that of the Taiyuan Saint Realm, especially since the Que Luo race's leader, True Saint Que Luo, was a Peak True Saint, only slightly weaker than the Dao Zenithels.

Making the Que Luo race lower their heads was no easy feat.

"Ming Jian, we'll divide the treasures later," Devil Emperor Xia said coldly.

"Alright," Wu Yuan's mana body nodded.

"Overlord Lan Yan." Devil Emperor Xia turned to Overlord Lan Yan. "I hope you'll keep the matter of my identity confidential."

"Of course," Overlord Lan Yan nodded repeatedly. Not being particularly close to 'Overlord Wu Yuan', she naturally didn't dare to be presumptuous and remained very respectful.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan's mana body waved his hand, storing Devil Emperor Xia and the other treasures within his grotto-heaven artifact.

Only Wu Yuan's mana body and Overlord Lan Yan remained in this expanse of void.

"Young Master," Overlord Lan Yan let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, finally feeling that she could speak normally. "Is Devil Emperor Xia truly that Overlord Wu Yuan from the Eldritch Court?"

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded.

Overlord Lan Yan was unaware of Wu Yuan's two true selves. To date, very few knew of this matter.

"No wonder. I was quite surprised when I first heard the legends of Devil Emperor Xia. I wondered when the Abyss had produced such a super powerhouse, one who could even become a Legend of the River," Overlord Lan Yan mused. "So it turns out he was Overlord Wu Yuan all along.

"To cultivate for only a hundred thousand years, and already carve out a reputation as a Legend of the River in the Abyss." She still found it somewhat shocking.

One was a Legend of the River born from the Abyss. The other, a monstrous prodigy from the universe. Yet they were one and the same person.

Seeing Overlord Lan Yan's expression, Wu Yuan couldn't help but reveal a mysterious smile.

This shocked you already? If you knew Ming Jian and Wu Yuan were the same person, wouldn't your jaw drop clean off? Of course, Wu Yuan had no intention of revealing this now, nor did he want more people to know of this matter.

"Young Master, rumor has it that Overlord Wu Yuan and you are close friends bound by life and death. It seems this is true," Overlord Lan Yan looked at Wu Yuan's mana body.

"Indeed," Wu Yuan nodded. "Our friendship was forged in the Megaverse Crossroads and has endured since. We've teamed up to brave dangers many times and are brothers bound by life and death."

Brothers bound by life and death? Overlord Lan Yan nodded. Only brothers bound by life and death would be willing to hide in each other's grotto-heaven artifacts.

"Overlord Wu Yuan is special. He has had great fortuitous encounters and is involved with the Eldritch Progenitors," Wu Yuan's mana body smiled. "You needn't investigate further. It's best not to know too much."

"I understand," Overlord Lan Yan nodded repeatedly.

Given the world-shaking power Overlord Wu Yuan had displayed, he would be considered one of the most outstanding monstrous prodigies in the Eldritch Court's history. The implications were surely immense, far beyond what an ordinary Overlord like herself could meddle in.

"Young Master," Overlord Lan Yan suddenly changed the subject. "Just now, those two Saints definitely didn't hand over all their treasures. They must have secretly held a portion back."

"I know," Wu Yuan's mana body smiled. "However, they don't wish to fight me to the death, and I don't want to clash with the Que Luo race to the bitter end either. It wouldn't benefit me or Overlord Wu Yuan.

"The Que Luo race fears our future strength, while we fear their present threat. Gaining fewer treasures but avoiding much trouble–why not?" Wu Yuan's mana body explained.

Overlord Lan Yan suddenly understood.

"Let's go," Wu Yuan's mana body said. "I'll send you back to the Meng Guan Saint Realm so you can return to the Ling Jiang Universe."

The Meng Guan Saint Realm was the Saint Realm faction Overlord Lan Yan belonged to in the cosmic sea.

In fact, True Saint Meng Guan was one of the successors of the Spacetime Dao Master, becoming a Dao-Enlightened Eternal many samsara cycles of heaven and earth ago.

Most importantly, the Spacetime Dao Master, True Saint Meng Guan, and others were actually powerhouses of the Blood Dream Alliance faction.

Wu Yuan only learned of these matters after conversing with Overlord Lan Yan.

...

The Zhu Ye Saint Realm was one of the nine Saint Realms of the Que Luo race.

In the far east of the Saint Realm's mainland, an immense temple hovered in the endless void, with many Perennial powerhouses patrolling the surroundings.

"True Saint." The true selves of Saint Dong Luan, Saint Ye Xing, and Saint Jin Jiao were all present in the hall, bowing respectfully.

At the end of the temple, atop a lofty throne, sat a majestic figure draped in black robes. Above his head swirled an endless nebula of black mist, like a ruler of the eternal night.

This was the founder of the Zhu Ye Saint Realm – True Saint Zhu Ye.

"Did they agree?" True Saint Zhu Ye's voice thundered, echoing through the grand temple.

"They agreed," Saint Dong Luan said respectfully. "The mana and ether bodies of myself and Jin Jiao have already left alive and are on their way back to the Saint Realm."

Beside him, Saint Ye Xing remained silent, having suffered the greatest losses among the three Saints.

"It’s good that they agreed." True Saint Zhu Ye gazed down at the Saints beneath him and spoke slowly, "I know you harbor resentment, but one cannot make enemies of such monstrous prodigies lightly.

"Be it Overlord Ming Jian or Devil Emperor Xia, both have the potential to become Dao Zenithels in the future.

"They don't belong to our Nine Saints Alliance, and we need not fear them. But if we were to truly clash, we would gain nothing from it."

The three Saints listened attentively.

"If there were truly great benefits at stake, such as a Xiantian Instrument or Chaos Treasure, then it would be worth pursuing to the end," True Saint Zhu Ye surveyed them from above. "But for this small grudge? If reconciliation is possible, then do it."

"Understood," the three Saints replied respectfully.

They had suffered considerable losses. But in the end, it was simply a matter of inferior skill. The three Saints had joined forces, yet couldn't defeat two sempiternal lifeforms. What more was there to say?

"However, we can't let this matter conclude so easily either," True Saint Zhu Ye spoke again. "Zhu Mu is dead after all. While we can't seek revenge against them directly, we should still cause them some trouble.

"Spread the news of this battle far and wide."

"Yes," the three Saints responded in unison. Having suffered a great defeat, they were naturally upset and were glad to have an outlet for their frustration.

The three Saints swiftly departed.

Heh! Overlord Ming Jian? Devil Emperor Xia? An Abyssal Devil Emperor and a Universal Overlord, yet they're sworn friends. How peculiar indeed.

True Saint Zhu Ye sat upon his towering throne, muttering to himself.

...

Time flowed on, days passing one after another.

Wu Yuan's mana body led Overlord Lan Yan forward, soaring through the mist.

After ten days, Wu Yuan suddenly halted, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"What is it, Young Master?" Overlord Lan Yan inquired.

"The Que Luo race has spread news of our previous battle," Wu Yuan said softly.

Overlord Lan Yan was immediately startled, revealing a hint of nervousness.

"It's of no concern." Wu Yuan's brow smoothed as he smiled, "I made no effort to conceal my identity because I was intending for this to spread. I have my own plans, so don't worry."

"Understood." Overlord Lan Yan nodded, relaxing.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two continued to advance through the outer region of Ancient Dream Mountain. It would take at least several decades to leave its bounds.

...

With True Saint Zhu Ye's orders, Saint Dong Luan and the others spread news of the battle extensively. It swiftly traveled through the Nine Saints Alliance's network of channels, flying to all corners of the boundless cosmic sea.

"What? Overlord Ming Jian has pioneered a Dao? And he is suspected to be a Psyche Dream class powerhouse?"

"Overlord Ming Jian and Devil Emperor Xia joined forces to defeat three Saints?"

"Overlord Ming Jian can also be considered a Legend of the River?" News spread far and wide, shaking the various major powers across the cosmic sea.