Chapter 1245: The Nine Chaos Voids

"Not a Dao Zenithel?"

"Then?" The gathering of Perennials and Saints outside the temple exchanged bewildered glances. They had always been accurate when it came to sensing auras.

The mysterious figure in black robes emanated a powerful aura, yet clearly fell short of what they'd expect from a Dao Zenithel. Everyone present understood the distinctive signature a Dao Zenithel's aura carried when they established their Eternal Realm; it was unmistakable among eternal powerhouses.

"Who other than a Dao Zenithel could project an incarnation so solid it's nearly indistinguishable from reality?"

"It should be impossible!”

Normally, a True Saint could only manage to form a weak projection.

At that moment, a Saint suddenly straightened, recognition dawning across his face. "It's True Saint Wu Yuan!”

"It's him?”

"How did True Saint Wu Yuan accomplish this? Could his Dao cultivation have already reached the Dao Zenithel level?" The confusion among the gathered cultivators was palpable, a mixture of shock and disbelief etched on their faces.

If it were anyone else, they would dismiss the notion outright. Advancing to Dao Zenithel in just a little more than a hundred million years defied all conventional wisdom. But when that individual was Wu Yuan, the creator of countless legends, the impossible became merely improbable.

These perspectives of these observing Perennials and Saints remained too limited.

Had Wu Yuan established his Saint Realm in the cosmic sea, projecting himself into the River of Universes would indeed have been beyond his capabilities. But Wu Yuan's body refiner self had established his Saint Realm in the Long Shan Universe. This allowed him to perceive the River of Universes with exceptional clarity through the Saint Realm's essence, enabling this rapid descent of consciousness.

Both the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu could display this ability, and with far greater mastery than Wu Yuan.

...

Wu Yuan paid no attention to the speculative chatter behind him. Though he'd spent the past hundred million years in secluded cultivation, some strands of his consciousness had maintained constant communication with the world outside. His strength and mentality had undergone profound transformations since those earlier days. Now, he was truly worthy of the title of Eternal True Saint.

With a graceful motion, Wu Yuan's projection crossed the temple threshold. Massive golden puppets lined both sides of the corridor, their eyes sealed shut. Despite their withdrawn auras, an unmistakable sense of dread emanated from their imposing forms.

True Saint puppets?

Wu Yuan noted silently, impressed.

In his younger days, though talented, he'd been merely one of many promising cultivators in the Eldritch Court. Only after ascending to True Saint had he gained access to the Eldritch Court's true core power. These rows of True Saint puppets represented one such pillar of strength. Though normally dormant, they were capable of explosive True Saint-level power when activated. Combining their power in an array, their collective might would be even more terrifying.

Though Dao Zenithels possess overwhelming individual strength, their numbers remain limited.

Wu Yuan reflected as he progressed through the corridor.

In conflicts within the cosmic sea, True Saints are equally vital.

The thought flickered through his mind and dissolved as he approached the inner hall.

From a distance, Wu Yuan could see the figure in white robes waiting at the temple's heart. She radiated a languid grace, sacred and unfathomable. Every instinct warned Wu Yuan that this entity could erase him with a single glance.

This was Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu’s true self!

"Eldritch Progenitor," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.

"Please, be seated." Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu smiled warmly, waving a delicate hand to conjure a floating jade platform before her.

"Thank you, Eldritch Progenitor." Wu Yuan seated himself with measured calm, yet deliberately lowered the platform slightly in a subtle gesture of deference.

"This is the first time you've met my true self, isn't it?" Hou Tu's smile carried a hint of amusement.

Wu Yuan nodded. Though he had paid respects to the Eldritch Progenitor in the Eldritch Court Universe after the Megaverse Crossroads ended years ago, his cultivation level had been too low then. What he'd observed had been merely a projection.

"May I ask why the Eldritch Progenitor has summoned me?" Wu Yuan inquired directly.

"Primarily to check on your recent progress." Hou Tu said with a gentle smile. "Previously, you were undergoing the Primordium's baptism, and I hesitated to disturb your cultivation.

"Now, I believe you should have some spare time. On the Eternal Register, your body refiner self has been temporarily listed within the top 3000 of the True Saint Rankings. What are your thoughts on this placement?"

Top 3000 on the True Saint Rankings?

Wu Yuan acknowledged this with a slight nod. Since becoming a True Saint, he had sensed the Eternal Register through the Primordial Rules. It was a special Xuanhuang Dao Treasure that ranked all True Saints across the Nine Megaverses Spacetime.

Most rankings remained approximate. Only the top 100 True Saints received precise placements; beyond that, cultivators were grouped into ranges—top 300, top 1000, top 3000, top 10,000. Of Wu Yuan's two true selves, his body refiner self was classified as "top 3000," while his qi refiner self fell within the "top 10,000" category.

This ranking, of course, represented the Wan Yu Tower's assessment rather than Wu Yuan's true capabilities. Only battle records could definitively establish a cultivator's standing, as demonstrated by True Saint Tian Chan, who claimed fourth place after a single battle and was widely considered capable of challenging for the highest rank. Tian Chan, however, had been missing for over a hundred million years.

"Top 3000?" Wu Yuan's lips curved into a mysterious smile, neither confirming nor denying. "It seems Dao Zenithel Wan Yu still underestimates me."

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's eyes brightened, immediately grasping Wu Yuan's meaning.

"In the Eldritch Court, you should have access to profiles of the True Saints and Dao Zenithels of the cosmic sea," Hou Tu observed. "Based on your own assessment, where do you rank?"

"My body refiner self should place within the top 100," Wu Yuan stated confidently. "As for my qi refiner self...That's harder to determine."

Indeed, it was complicated. In terms of physical attacks, his qi refiner self naturally couldn't match his body refiner self. For spiritual and soul attacks, his qi refiner self possessed formidable capabilities, yet the soul class was unique. Some powerhouses with otherwise modest strength boasted extraordinary soul defenses, while others demonstrated the opposite pattern. Much depended on the specific opponent.

"Top 100?" Hou Tu's eyes narrowed, genuine surprise flickering across her features. "Are you certain? You understand that the True Saint Rankings encompass all powerhouses across the Nine Megaverses Spacetime. Each cultivator ranked in the top 100 must possess the strength of a Full True Saint."

True Saint powerhouses fell into four broad categories: Threshold, Standard, Peak, and Full.

Threshold True Saints had just broken through and typically lacked a Xiantian Instrument. Their numbers remained relatively few, as most cultivators at this level were in seclusion.

Standard and Peak True Saints had generally developed formidable ultimate techniques and possessed Xiantian Instruments for protection, their power differentiated mainly by the number of such artifacts they commanded.

Full True Saints were truly formidable figures. Their insights had allowed them to refine their self-created Dao to the limits of the third step. Their equipment sometimes included Chaos Treasures. Their foundations included at least an Eternal Matter Body, often mastered to a large degree. Their strength represented the limit of what True Saints could achieve.

Beyond them stood the invincible True Saints like Tian Chan, whose combat prowess approached the Threshold Dao Zenithel level. Such figures were exceptionally rare, as most eventually crossed into the Dao Zenithel stage given sufficient time.

"I understand completely," Wu Yuan nodded, his smile unwavering. "Contending for the top 10 might be beyond my current capabilities, but the top 100 should be well within reach."

His qi refiner self, having yet to obtain the Samsara Sword, might still fall short of Full True Saint strength. But after more than a hundred million years of secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan had absolute confidence that his body refiner self had indeed reached this level.

"I believe you." Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's gaze changed as she regarded Wu Yuan. "With such strength, I can indeed entrust weightier responsibilities to you."

"Weightier responsibilities?" Wu Yuan's brow furrowed slightly, curiosity piqued.

"If I recall correctly," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said, "you mentioned previously that both your mana body and ether body could cultivate Eternal Psyches?"

"Yes." Wu Yuan nodded. "It's a rare treasure I acquired in the Azure Saint Tomb. Its potential is considerable but finite, nine uses at most."

During his recent period of seclusion, after successfully advancing his cultivation, Wu Yuan had dispatched a message to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Yet he had deliberately concealed a significant portion of the Xuanhuang Essence's true capabilities. This omission wasn't made lightly, but after careful deliberation.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

For one, Wu Yuan's mana and ether bodies would eventually venture into the vast cosmic sea. Rather than explaining these matters hastily later, it seemed more prudent to lay some groundwork now.

Additionally, he genuinely wished to contribute meaningfully to the Eldritch Court, which necessitated Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu understanding the true extent of his powers.

But most crucially, Wu Yuan was now a True Saint. As long as his true self remained within his home universe, his safety was absolutely guaranteed. Even if Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, the Heavenly Imperator, and others at their level discovered the Xuanhuang Essence's full potential, they could do nothing to threaten him.

So what if they knew? So what if they coveted it? It didn’t matter now.

"Nine times..." Hou Tu exhaled slowly, her voice tinged with excitement. "This is undoubtedly an inconceivable supreme treasure. The fact that you could retrieve it from the Azure Saint Tomb shows that you were fated to obtain it.

"The reason I summoned you today relates to your ether body's ability to employ power rivaling your true self." Her gaze intensified. "I want you to travel to the Nine Chaos Voids."

"The Nine Chaos Voids?" Wu Yuan's pulse quickened as a torrent of intelligence about this place flooded his consciousness.

All nine megaverses of the Nine Megaverses Spacetime were divided between the Heartland and Outer Region. These Outer Regions were connected to one another, forming common ground where travelers venturing deep enough into the cosmic sea might encounter eternal powerhouses from other megaverses.

The Outer Region was a battlefield where countless cosmic factions vied for dominance. It birthed innumerable rare treasures, and all Xuanhuang Dao Treasures originated there. The precious materials required for forging Chaos Treasures and Xiantian Instruments were primarily harvested from these distant realms.

Yet the cosmic sea stretched boundlessly, and most exploration sites offered little value compared to their dangers. Put simply, the risks far outweighed the potential rewards.

Only a select few treasure grounds boasted a truly exceptional risk-reward ratio. These locations inevitably became fiercely contested prizes among the great factions. The Nine Chaos Voids ranked among them as one of the eight elite exploration sites in the entire cosmic sea.

Of these eight legendary locations, Wu Yuan had personally visited only one: the Azure Saint Tomb. Its reputation stemmed from its unique nature, where success relied heavily on individual strength.

The Nine Chaos Voids, however, was far more brutal.

"The Nine Chaos Voids hold countless ancient relic sites," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu explained. "All are suspected to be remnants from the previous Primordial Epoch. Occasionally, cultivators discover Xiantian Instruments or even Chaos Treasures.

"Most crucially, though, is the continuous birth of Xiantian Natal qi and Chaos Orichalcum."

Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

Xiantian Natal qi contained the purest essence from the source of Xiantian qi, making it an essential material for crafting Xiantian artifacts. Its universal applicability made it extremely valuable.

Chaos Orichalcum, meanwhile, served as a core component for forging both Xiantian Instruments and Chaos Treasures, though massive quantities were required.

Countless powers engaged in bloody competition within the Nine Chaos Voids over these treasures.

"The environment there is extremely unique," Hou Tu continued. "Under its operational rules, Dao Zenithels cannot enter. Within those boundaries, True Saints become the primary fighting force."

Wu Yuan absorbed this information with a silent nod. The situation resembled the battles in the void of the River of Universes, where Overlords were the main combatants while Saints descended only occasionally.

In special regions of the cosmic sea, True Saints sometimes played more pivotal roles than Dao Zenithels. This explained why.

From Wu Yuan's knowledge, each of the eight elite exploration sites had distinctive entry requirements. The Azure Saint Tomb demanded a token for admission. Without one, certain death awaited. The Nine Chaos Voids barred entry to Dao Zenithels entirely.

And Yonder Cliff, ranked first among all eight sites and considered the most treacherous location in the entire cosmic sea, permitted only Dao Zenithels to enter. Anyone weaker faced immediate annihilation.

"Throughout countless ages, our Eldritch Court has maintained steady control over the Third Chaos Void within the Nine Chaos Voids," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu explained. "The Immortal Court commands the Fourth Chaos Void.

"The First, Second, Fifth, and Sixth Chaos Voids have been jointly occupied by several major powers working in alliance."

"Only the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Chaos Voids that have emerged most recently remain contested grounds. The strongholds that various forces attempt to establish there are constantly warped and distorted by each Chaos Void's intrinsic rules. Those areas have never stabilized, and consequently, they host the most savage battles."

Wu Yuan listened with rapt attention.

The Nine Chaos Voids earned their name from the nine Chaos Voids that had materialized successively, numbered according to their emergence.

Older Chaos Voids possessed a more stable essence. After centuries of conflict, with powerful factions continuously reinforcing their arrays and defenses, these realms eventually fell under permanent occupation, allowing their controllers to harvest resources without interruption.

The Eldritch Court's Third Chaos Void, for instance, now stood protected by countless interlocking arrays and numerous stationed True Saints, effectively deterring rival powers from encroachment.

"Eldritch Progenitor," Wu Yuan asked, "would you like me to guard the Third Chaos Void? Or perhaps..."

"We have sufficient guardians in the Third Chaos Void," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu replied, studying him intently. "Initially, I considered sending your ether body to the Seventh Chaos Void, but your strength exceeds my expectations. By my estimation, you could rank among the twenty most powerful True Saints in the entire Eldritch Court.

"However, other True Saints lack your freedom. Most send only their mana or ether bodies, rarely willing to risk their true selves."

Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.

Indeed! Other Eldritch Court True Saints, even those potentially stronger than himself, hesitated to dispatch their true bodies for combat. A fallen True Saint faced difficult odds of resurrection. Most powerhouses at that level harbored understandable reservations.

The potential gains simply didn't justify such an existential risk.

"Therefore, I want you to head to the Ninth Chaos Void." Her eyes glinted. "You’ll be our sharpened blade, eliminating True Saints from rival powers, especially those from the Immortal Court."

"The Ninth Chaos Void?" Wu Yuan murmured thoughtfully. "The most chaotic of all?"

The later a Chaos Void's emergence, the greater its instability, but also the more abundant its relic sites and treasures.

And undeniably, the greater its dangers.

"This is just my suggestion," Eldritch Hou Tu said with a faint smile. "After all, you're only risking your ether body. Your true self faces no danger.

"Whether you accept this mission is entirely your choice."

"I will go," Wu Yuan replied without hesitation.

"Will you not take some time to consider?" Hou Tu's eyebrows rose slightly. "Once you appear there, other powers won't realize that’s merely your ether body. They might mistake it for your true self, and the Immortal Court could dispatch numerous True Saints against you."

"That would suit me perfectly." Wu Yuan's mouth curved into a smile. "Eldritch Progenitor, while I'm confident in eventually advancing to Dao Zenithel, the path is still long. Venturing into the Nine Chaos Voids offers an invaluable opportunity to temper myself, to test the fruits of my cultivation."

His eyes narrowed. "As for the Immortal Court's True Saints? It's not their numbers I fear—only that too few will come.”

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu stared at him, momentarily stunned by his audacity, before breaking into laughter. "Well spoken!

"With such resolve, I can rest easy. Go now and make your preparations.

"Inform me before your departure so I can alert our other True Saints stationed in the Nine Chaos Voids."

"Understood," Wu Yuan said with a respectful nod.

Afterward, Wu Yuan and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu engaged in a lengthy discussion about their cultivation insights. Throughout their exchange, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu was mainly the one speaking, yet when Wu Yuan posed occasional questions, the eternal ultimate techniques he proposed sometimes visibly astonished her.

After their meeting concluded, Wu Yuan finally took his leave.

A Full True Saint?

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu mused to herself, watching his departing figure.

Before knowing it, Wu Yuan has already reached this level.

She gazed into the distance.

At this pace, it won't be long before he stands shoulder to shoulder with me.