Chapter 1240: It Was I Who Assisted The Creation Dao Master (2)

"Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and I have spoken many times. Since your two true selves pioneered Daos at the sempiternal stage, we've determined that you possess the potential to become a Heavenly Venerable," the elder revealed with a meaningful smile.

Heavenly Venerable? Wu Yuan held his breath, stunned.

For the first time, someone had declared he possessed the potential to become a Heavenly Venerable. And not just anyone, but the mysterious, powerful Spacetime Dao Master and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, who stood at the cosmic sea's pinnacle.

"The fifth-step Eternal, known as Heavenly Venerable, represents the ultimate aspiration of countless Dao Zenithels," the elder's eyes shone. "If we could nurture a Heavenly Venerable, all concerns would vanish into insignificance."

His voice softened. "I eagerly await the day when the entire cosmic sea resonates with the name 'Heavenly Venerable Yuan'."

Wu Yuan listened in silence, absorbing these words. Heavenly Venerable Yuan? The title seemed simultaneously distant yet close. To say he harbored no desire for such a level would be an outright lie. Especially after learning of the Azure Saint and Origin Saint's exploits in the Azure Saint Tomb, ambition had taken root deep within Wu Yuan.

Ambition wasn't inherently negative. With proper motivation, one could keep ascending to higher pinnacles.

"However, you aren't without rivals," the elder cautioned solemnly. "The Heavenly Imperator, Jin Yi."

"Jin Yi?" A spark ignited in Wu Yuan's eyes as he recalled the young Heavenly Imperator on the Path of Ancients, so dazzlingly sharp and formidable. That profound declaration, "If the overly rigid breaks easily, it's just not rigid enough", had deeply impressed Wu Yuan. This was unquestionably an extraordinary being.

"Across the entire cosmic sea, if I were to identify who among the many Dao Zenithels possesses the greatest hope of taking the fifth step of their self-created Dao, it would undoubtedly be the Heavenly Imperator," the black-haired elder stated deliberately. "He is genuinely remarkable."

He shook his head slightly. "The Heavenly Imperator is a member of the human race as well, but unfortunately..."

"The Heavenly Imperator was human?" Wu Yuan couldn't mask his astonishment.

This was undoubtedly a great secret. From Wu Yuan's perspective, the entire Immortal Court embraced myriad races, with powerhouses from various races finding their place within it. Many naturally-born eternal lifeforms had joined as well.

The Eldritch Court, with humanity as its core, subsequently took in powerful beings from countless races. The Immortal Court, conversely, lacked an absolute core race or lineage, presenting itself as an extraordinarily inclusive major power that also welcomed many human powerhouses.

None of the numerous texts Wu Yuan had studied ever mentioned the Heavenly Imperator's race. He never imagined he was human.

"The Heavenly Imperator established the Immortal Court, and atop the Saintdom of the Immortal Court Universe, Myriad Beast Mountain, he made a grand vow: to unite all races, ruling with the philosophy that ‘everyone is a dragon’," the elder explained with a sigh. "Through countless samsara cycles of heaven and earth, he has consistently upheld this oath. He is truly a remarkable hero."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly. From the numerous texts he had obtained, this indeed aligned with what he knew. The Heavenly Imperator's name spanned ancient and modern times. Even as an adversary, there was no need to disparage him. It was best to acknowledge an opponent's strength candidly.

"But the ideals of the Eldritch Court aren't misguided either," the black-haired elder smiled. "The human race truly stands as the most outstanding among myriad races. Human powerhouses emerge in droves, so the desire to strengthen humanity follows naturally.

"You have received the Eldritch Court's grace, so you should repay that debt. Similarly, the Heavenly Imperator's willingness to make such a grand oath also represents, in a sense, repayment for the grace of nurture."

Wu Yuan listened silently, contemplating these words. Repaying the grace of nurture? It seemed Senior Tian Xu was greatly familiar with the Heavenly Imperator's past.

"As for myself, I also favor the human race and willingly maintain cordial relations with the Eldritch Court," the elder smiled enigmatically. "Initially, I too was... Haha, what's passed is passed."

He shifted topics abruptly. "When your Eternal Psyche fully evolves and you've established your Saint Realm, you should be able to sense the Samsara Sword's location. Retrieve it yourself at that time.

"As for the Blood Dream Alliance? You may leverage some of its power, but never trust it completely. The Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor each harbor their own plans."

"This junior will keep it in mind," Wu Yuan nodded solemnly.

Whoosh!

The black-haired elder's figure slowly dissipated. All traces he had left within the essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime vanished completely.

Am I alone now?

Wu Yuan's consciousness probed the vast, boundless essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime. It was limitless in its expanse, infinite in its power.

Tian Xu?

He wondered.

Why would he favor the human race? What could Senior Tian Xu's ultimate goal possibly be?

Wu Yuan sensed that Senior Tian Xu's purpose likely had exceptional significance.

For now, it doesn’t matter.

He decided firmly.

I'll address each challenge as it arises. Now that I'm the Spacetime Dao Master, what’s there to fear? And I'll soon obtain the Samsara Sword.

The thought of it brought him reassurance.

Though his succession of the Spacetime Dao Master’s position had been orchestrated by Senior Tian Xu and wasn’t revealed to Wu Yuan before today, he felt profound gratitude toward the elder.

Judge by deeds, not thoughts. Regardless of motivations, Wu Yuan had received immeasurable assistance while giving virtually nothing in return.

The Eternal Psyche's evolution will require approximately a million years.

He calculated.

Afterward, my qi refiner self will open a Saint Realm within the universe.

He made his decision.

However, for the next one hundred million years, my qi refiner self will undergo the Primordium's baptism.

He mapped his future path methodically.

During these hundred million years, I'll devote myself entirely to cultivation and deduction. After that period concludes, I'll use the Xuanhuang Essence to cultivate Eternal Psyches for both my mana body and ether body. Then, together, they'll venture into the cosmic sea to retrieve the Samsara Sword.

Unless absolutely necessary, both true selves would remain within the universe.

Time flowed onward—a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years... Wu Yuan's qi refiner self continued cultivating in seclusion, his body constantly evolving.

Within the Ling Jiang Universe, Wu Yuan had long since become invincible. Even if the Heavenly Imperator appeared personally, he couldn't harm Wu Yuan. This knowledge eliminated all anxiety.

The bodies of Eternal powerhouses were classified into levels: Eternal Law Body, Eternal Saint Body, Eternal Matter Body, and Xuanhuang Body. All True Saints, even without comprehending the path of matter, could cultivate Eternal Saint Bodies with a physique rivaling that of Matter Overlords. This was a fundamental characteristic of True Saints, and Wu Yuan was no exception.

Naturally, unless one specifically cultivated an Eternal Matter Body, physical might remained secondary for True Saints.

Psyche World.

Wu Yuan marveled, sensing the vast spacetime opened within his Eternal Psyche. It stretched boundlessly, giving rise to countless miniature universes. A great void formed alongside an extremely stable mainland. This was essentially a Saint Realm.

Within this Psyche World, miniature rivers of space and time formed alongside nascent Destiny Voidscapes.

The evolution continues.

Wu Yuan observed with wonder.

When the Psyche World fully matures, I'll project it into the external world, creating a true Saint Realm.

A Saint Realm essentially represented a miniature River of Universes. When complete, it would become the energy wellspring of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, continuously channeling the immense power of the Saint Realm's essence to the Eternal Psyche through their special connection.

...

In the Ling Jiang Universe, terrifying waves of pressure stretched across a hundred billion light-years of space, persisting with undiminished intensity.

After more than three hundred thousand years, this extraordinary phenomenon had become as familiar as breathing to the Overlords and countless sempiternal beings of the Ling Jiang Universe.

Three hundred thousand years. For mortals, it represented the passing of innumerable generations. Entire civilizations had risen and fallen, their histories forgotten. But for sempiternal beings whose lifespans were measured in millions of years, it was merely a brief interlude in their endless existence.

A black-robed figure soared through the void of the Greenridge Macrocosm, his eyes perceiving everything in his path. Beside him floated a white-robed figure, radiating a sacred, maternal warmth.

"Wu Yuan, are you prepared to journey to the Long Shan Universe?" asked Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu’s incarnation, a gentle smile on her face.

"Yes," Wu Yuan replied with quiet certainty. "After hundreds of thousands of years, my qi refiner self’s condition has fully stabilized, and I've cultivated my Eternal Saint Body to complete mastery. There’s no sign of movement from the Immortal Court as well.

"There's no need for my body refiner self to stand guard here any longer. I've decided to enter the Long Shan Universe to undergo Dao Enlightenment."

"Alright then," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu nodded, her eyes crinkling with genuine warmth. "In that case, the next time we meet, I should address you as Creation Dao Master."

Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile.

"You're already the Spacetime Dao Master," Hou Tu continued. "If you become the Creation Dao Master as well, it will truly be a blessing for our Eldritch Court." She sighed softly, her gaze lingering on him. "In the future, surpassing me shouldn't prove difficult for you."

"I'm not absolutely confident about taking the fifth step of eternity," Wu Yuan replied, shaking his head with humility.

"Who can say for certain?" Hou Tu teased. "Who could have imagined that the youth from Li City all those years ago would hold two Dao Master positions in less than ten million years of cultivation?"

Wu Yuan fell silent, a wave of emotion washing through his heart. Indeed! From the time that young man had left Li City all those years ago to this day, becoming an existence near the pinnacle of the vast cosmic sea...Looking back on his journey, it truly seemed like a dream.

"Go on then," Hou Tu said softly. "I've already instructed True Saint Wan Xuan to gather the True Saints of the Long Shan Universe. They await your arrival.

"Remember, avoid conflict if possible. There's no need to create unnecessary enmity."

"I understand," Wu Yuan nodded.

That same day, Wu Yuan's body refiner self quietly departed the Ling Jiang Universe, bringing his ether body along.

...

Just one day later, Wu Yuan arrived at the edge of the Long Shan Universe.

I’m back.

He murmured as he traversed the void, feeling the distinctive aura of this universe.

Years ago, he had adventured here, forging his body refiner self’s reputation as an Overlord.

In the blink of an eye, several million years had passed. Such a span of time was but a fleeting moment for the universe, yet so much had changed.

The Creation Dao Realm.

Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the dark void, vaguely sensing everything in that vast Eternal Realm deep in the universe. A faint feeling tugged at him—the unmistakable call of the Great Dao's Authority of Creation summoning him forward.

Soon.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Don't be impatient. Very soon, I shall be the Creation Dao Master.

Whoosh!

He streaked through space without lingering, speeding toward a section of void approximately 60 billion light years from the headquarters of the Eldritch Court's Long Shan Saintdom.

This place was dark, vast, and utterly empty. No stars sparkled here, no light filtered through. Not even a speck of matter drifted in the void. In the eyes of countless sempiternal beings of the Long Shan Universe, this expanse of outer space was a desolate and treacherous wasteland to be avoided.

Yet over the long ages, when the True Saints behind the various Saintdoms of the Long Shan Universe had important matters to discuss, they would gather in this very place.

The reason was simple: here, the fabric of the River of Universes’ spacetime was at its thinnest throughout the Long Shan Universe, making it the safest location for True Saints to convene.

And today, in this section of void, streams of eternal, indestructible wills converged, coalescing into various projections.

Though mere incantations, their auras remained extraordinary. Some exuded an eerie, unfathomable presence; others stood immovable as ancient glaciers; while yet others radiated overwhelming dominance.

A full ten True Saints had projected their consciousnesses and wills here, each occupying a section of the void.

"Wan Xuan, you claimed you had something important enough to gather us all. Now that most of us are here, it's time you explained what’s going on."

"Yes, what's this about? We've been waiting for a good half of the day.” One by one, the True Saints voiced their irritation.

They couldn't be blamed. True Saint Wan Xuan had been exceedingly vexing, summoning them here only to keep stalling, saying, "very soon, any moment now..." This wait had now dragged on for half a day.

"Wan Xuan, we're only projected incarnations. Even if you have some scheme planned, you can't harm us," a figure in blood-red robes said coldly. "If you don't speak up soon, I'm leaving."

"Haha, don't go, don't go, it's about to begin," True Saint Wan Xuan chuckled. "Besides, Tao Hu, you'll be playing a main character in today's show."

"Me?" True Saint Tao Hu's expression immediately turned wary.

As the highest leader of the Immortal Court's Long Shan Saintdom, he had crossed swords with True Saint Wan Xuan more than once.

"Could it be that your two great Saintdoms are about to declare war?" True Saint Yao Yue asked, her smile alluring.

The other True Saints revealed curious expressions.

It was true that the Immortal Court and Eldritch Court were rivals, but within the universe, True Saints couldn't truly harm one another, so things were rather peaceful.

As for the so-called wars between Saintdoms, those were conflicts waged between Sovereigns and rarely affected True Saints directly.

"You'll all know soon enough," True Saint Wan Xuan smiled mysteriously. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with genuine excitement. "Ah, our protagonist has arrived."

"Protagonist?"

"Who?" The other True Saints started momentarily, but they quickly sensed the new presence. One by one, they turned to look toward the disturbance in the void.

With a subtle hum, spacetime rippled gently, and a black-robed figure materialized in the void. Though clearly a sempiternal lifeform, the sharpness of his aura made the hearts of all assembled Saints skip a beat.

"Wu Yuan?"

"What? Wu Yuan is here? Judging by his aura, this isn’t an incarnation. It’s his ether body or true self." In an instant, the True Saints' expressions transformed, filled with both shock and confusion.

They were certainly aware of Wu Yuan's formidable reputation. But this was the Long Shan Universe.

Only True Saint Tao Hu's eyes flashed with understanding.