Chapter 1199: Wu Yuan’s Reputation (4)

Deep within the cosmic sea lay another vast and boundless megaverse, with its own constantly evolving River of Universes and Heartland. Like a miniature version of the Central Megaverse, this realm was known as the Ancient Megaverse.

The entire megaverse was dominated by a single power—the Ancient Alliance—and its supreme leader was named Yan Tuo.

"Interesting! Truly interesting!" A towering figure emerged from a temple, gazing down upon the worlds below. His aura of supreme authority enveloped all.

"Yan Tuo! Yan Tuo! Yan Tuo!" Countless beings across innumerable worlds sensed that supreme majesty, falling to their knees in reverence, chanting and praying in hushed tones.

"For the Eldritch Court to produce such a monstrous prodigy," the imposing man murmured, "he will likely ascend to the Dao Zenithel stage before long." A calculating gleam entered his eyes. "Fight on, Jin Yi, Hou Tu. The more fiercely you clash, the greater my opportunity becomes."

...

In a mysterious pocket of spacetime completely isolated from the world outside, countless lifeforms thrived. This was neither a Saint Realm nor Eternal Realm. Had eternal powerhouses from beyond witnessed this, they would have been utterly dumbfounded. How could ordinary sempiternal lifeforms survive in the cosmic sea without the operational laws of the Saint Realm?

"It's finally done," muttered an elderly man in black robes as he emerged from a tavern. His face was incredibly aged, as if death itself lurked just beneath his skin. Even cultivators would have sensed the thick miasma of mortality enshrouding him.

"Wu Yuan? I did not bestow the Samsara Sword upon you in vain." The elderly man in black picked up a wine jug, swaying unsteadily as he walked down the street. "Soon. We need only wait for you to break through to Dao Zenithel. Then the final gambit can begin."

...

The battle in the Ling Jiang Universe sent shockwaves throughout the entire cosmic sea. Renowned leaders of various factions and ancient Dao Zenithels alike swiftly learned of this conflict.

Many Dao Zenithels wondered—was Wu Yuan truly a sempiternal lifeform? If so, how could his strength be so immense? It defied all reason. Countless powerful beings, trapped at bottlenecks for innumerable samsara cycles, yearned to unravel Wu Yuan's secrets.

However, upon confirming his true might, they abandoned such notions. As Wu Yuan had declared, he was invincible within the Ling Jiang Universe. Even if the Heavenly Imperator or Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu projected their incarnations there, they would fare no better.

Furthermore, behind Wu Yuan stood one of the two greatest factions in the entire cosmic sea—the Eldritch Court! The terrifying reputation of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had been forged through countless battles. Without question, Wu Yuan would now receive the full attention and protection of the entire Eldritch Court.

Even in the cosmic sea, any Dao Zenithel who dared move against him would incur the frenzied retaliation of the Eldritch Court behind him.

"Wu Yuan is truly heaven-defying."

"The most monstrous prodigy since the Primordium, an undefeated legend among sempiternal lifeforms."

"In the future, he may reach the level of Great Emperor Yan Tuo—perhaps even surpass him."

"He will certainly establish a Saintdom within the universe."

"None can stop him." This was the consensus among the great factions –another monstrous prodigy who could create a Saint Realm within a universe had risen. And his ascent was faster and more dazzling than all predecessors.

...

Throughout the vast cosmic sea, various factions regarded the Eldritch Court's potential dominion over another universe with cautious acceptance.

While none particularly welcomed Wu Yuan's success, they could, with reluctant pragmatism, come to terms with it. After all, no unbridgeable animosity existed between these cosmic powers and the Eldritch Court. Even if their rivals gained another Eldritch Progenitor equivalent to Hou Tu, the balance of power would shift but not collapse entirely.

For the Immortal Court, however, the situation carried far more dire implications. Their enmity with the Eldritch Court ran unfathomably deep. The remains of their fallen could form entire macrocosms, with rivers of blood flowing like galactic streams across the cosmos. This hatred could never be reconciled or forgotten.

When news of the battle reached them, the Immortal Court trembled with collective shock. Fear spread like wildfire among their ranks.

"Is the Eldritch Court about to produce another being of Hou Tu's caliber?"

"Another entity to stand against our Heavenly Imperator?" These anxious questions echoed in the minds of countless Immortal Court powerhouses, their concern genuine and deep-seated.

Deep within the Immortal Court Universe, in a boundless world, a figure materialized from nothingness. Clad in pristine white robes, he seemed to exist in a different spacetime.

"Imperial Majesty Dong Huo," the white-robed figure addressed the void. His voice, though soft as a whisper, penetrated every dimensional fold and corner of reality with perfect clarity—utterly omnipresent.

Spacetime twisted and folded upon itself as another figure emerged from the dimensional rift. He wore gleaming silver armor, appearing as a divine war god with an overwhelming aura of authority.

"Jiu You," acknowledged the armored figure with a thin smile curving his lips.

This imposing presence was none other than Imperial Majesty Dong Huo—one of the four supreme Imperial Majesties serving directly beneath the Heavenly Imperator. [1] His power rivaled that of Great Emperor Yan Tuo and Dao Zenithel Wan Yu.

"Dong Huo," Immortal Eminence Jiu You's brow creased with concern. "Surely you're aware of the situation with Wu Yuan by now. I've submitted full reports to the Heavenly Imperator, yet we've received no directive in response."

He locked eyes with his counterpart. "Are we truly going to stand idle while Wu Yuan grows in power?"

As a Dao Zenithel himself who wielded mastery over spacetime, Jiu You held comparable standing in the Immortal Court’s hierarchy, making him one of the few who could speak so directly to an Imperial Majesty.

"Idle?" The Imperial Majesty's smile deepened with subtle knowing. "Certainly not. I've been monitoring Wu Yuan's situation with careful attention. Did you not wonder why Nine Peaks acted so readily? Why Dao Zenithel Huang Yue would risk the Eldritch Court's wrath by dispatching two True Saints under his command?"

Immortal Eminence Jiu You's pupils contracted sharply as realization dawned. He had indeed questioned Huang Yue's uncharacteristically swift agreement to his request. Now he understood—the Imperial Majesty Dong Huo had been orchestrating events from behind the scenes.

"Nevertheless, our options are now severely limited," the Imperial Majesty continued, his expression growing solemn. "In truth, since the conflict in the River of Universes a million years past, Wu Yuan's ascension became unavoidable—a rising tide impossible to stem.

"We exerted our utmost efforts to contain him, yet his rise has proven both too swift and too powerful to counteract.

"We deployed three True Saints simultaneously for this confrontation in the Ling Jiang Universe—the absolute extent of our available power," he stated with calm resignation. "Yet even this proved insufficient. What more can be attempted?"

Immortal Eminence Jiu You released an inward sigh of acceptance.

The Imperial Majesty spoke the truth. Whether during the previous conflict or this recent clash in the Saintdom, the Immortal Court had already committed its maximum strength. Mustering a greater force would prove nearly impossible at this juncture.

Wu Yuan's development had simply outpaced their ability to respond—his power escalating beyond all reasonable expectation.

"Within the Ling Jiang Universe, he now stands undefeatable. The establishment of his Saint Realm there is merely a matter of time," the Imperial Majesty stated with finality. "This assessment comes not from me, but directly from the Heavenly Imperator."

"The Heavenly Imperator himself?" Immortal Eminence Jiu You’s expression grew grave.

"There's no need for excessive concern," the armored figure assured him. "The Heavenly Imperator has identified three critical factors behind Wu Yuan's extraordinary strength. First, he has successfully cultivated an Eternal Matter Body."

"An Eternal Matter Body?" Immortal Eminence Jiu You could not mask his shock. His expression quickly shifted to confusion. "But wouldn't that mean he's already an Eternal? How then—"

"Allow me to finish," the Imperial Majesty interrupted with a slight shake of his head. "Second, he holds the position of Ancestral Pagoda Archon, granting him temporary resistance against the River of Universes’ suppression while within a universe's boundaries."

Jiu You's astonishment deepened. A legendary Ancestral Pagoda Archon?

"Third," the Imperial Majesty locked eyes with his colleague, "the self-created Dao he has established possesses extraordinary might. According to the Heavenly Imperator's analysis, it has transcended the classification of top-tier self-created Daos and entered the realm of what can only be termed a Primordial self-created Dao.

"Perhaps you do not fully comprehend the significance of this achievement. This is the caliber of self-created Dao wielded only by the Heavenly Imperator himself, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, and Goddess Nüwa," he explained, his voice heavy with implication.

Complete disbelief washed over Jiu You's features.

"Both our Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu achieved this pinnacle through countless eons of gradual refinement and perfection," the Imperial Majesty continued with a slight shake of his head. "Yet Wu Yuan attained this level immediately upon pioneering his Dao. It defies all precedent."

Immortal Eminence Jiu You fell silent.

"For the present, you need not involve yourself further in this matter," the Imperial Majesty advised. "Ensure this intelligence remains strictly contained.

"The Heavenly Imperator will determine our course of action when the time is right.

"Understood." With a respectful bow, Immortal Eminence Jiu You departed from this realm.

1. Dong = East ☜