Chapter 1278: Dong Yi's Promise (2)

Imperial Majesty Dong Huo wasn't alone in questioning the connection between Wu Yuan and Ming Jian. The appearance of two such extraordinary prodigies within a single samsara cycle defied all probability. That they emerged from the same universe, the same macrocosm, with nearly identical ages? This was beyond a miracle.

Logic suggested that beings of such exceptional talent should naturally become rivals, yet these two maintained an unusually close alliance. Despite their suspicions, when the various True Saints and Dao Zenithels attempted to trace the threads of spacetime and karma, they invariably discovered two separate, pristine timelines. Their conclusion remained the same: Wu Yuan and Ming Jian could not be the same person.

The eternal powerhouses, particularly the Dao Zenithels, trusted their own divinations more than any other.

...

The contest for the first Chaos Jade Crystal claimed relatively few lives; only a handful of True Saints perished. Wu Yuan and True Saint Luan Hai's overwhelming strength had discouraged most competitors from even attempting to challenge them.

But as the second, third, fourth, and fifth Chaos Jade Crystals manifested across the void, the conflicts grew increasingly brutal. These Jade Crystals materialized in locations far from Wu Yuan, and it would have taken him thousands of years to reach them. Thus, he could only watch from afar as others claimed the prizes.

True Saint Qing Yan of the Immortal Court eventually secured the second Chaos Jade Crystal.

The third fell to True Saint He Wu from Nine Peaks, ranked merely within the top three hundred of the True Saint Rankings and barely possessing Full True Saint strength.

This particular crystal ignited the most ferocious struggle, appearing in a region lacking any of the top twenty ranked True Saints. The absence of super powerhouses created a more level battlefield. Nearly a thousand True Saints converged, unleashing a bloodbath that claimed over eighty lives before True Saint He Wu emerged victorious.

The fourth Chaos Jade Crystal was seized by True Saint Gu’e, who held the sixty-sixth position in the True Saint Rankings. This battle proved equally brutal, with more than thirty True Saints falling in combat.

The fifth was captured by True Saint Sha Yin, the number one True Saint of the Demon Glory Alliance, ranked thirteenth among all True Saints.

With each passing conflict, the desperation intensified. Every True Saint understood that those who had already secured Chaos Jade Crystals would quickly vanish into seclusion, keeping their treasures hidden and refusing to emerge. Their remaining opportunities were vanishing with alarming speed.

...

Twenty-four thousand years after the opening of the Tenth Chaos Void, the sixth Chaos Jade Crystal pulsed into existence.

This time, Wu Yuan sensed its emergence immediately and rushed toward the disturbance.

Yet fortune turned against him. The crystal had already been claimed by True Saint Dong Yi. Being a member of the same faction, Wu Yuan could not rightfully seize the treasure from him.

Nevertheless, Wu Yuan's brilliance shone during the ensuing conflict. Single-handedly, he suppressed True Saint Yan Huo, True Saint Shen Yan, and numerous other True Saints, creating a path for Dong Yi's escape.

"Wu Yuan's power truly defies comprehension.”

"First he aided Ming Jian, now he protected Dong Yi... With him standing guard, we stand no chance," lamented True Saint Yan Huo, True Saint Shen Yan, and the others.

True Saint Shen Yan felt the sting of defeat most keenly. Even after deploying his Divine Eye and unleashing his considerable combat prowess, he could only battle Wu Yuan to a stalemate before exhaustion forced his retreat.

"Only Wu Yuan appeared.”

"Ming Jian remains hidden. He's likely found some secluded place to cultivate after obtaining his Chaos Jade Crystal." Many speculated.

If True Saint Ming Jian were to reveal himself now, he would undoubtedly face a relentless assault from countless True Saints attempting to snatch his prize.

...

Within the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, deep inside the Eldritch Progenitor Hall, Wu Yuan and True Saint Dong Yi conversed in a small, private plane.

"Brother Wu Yuan," True Saint Dong Yi began, his voice thick with sincerity, "I owe this Chaos Jade Crystal to your help. I, Dong Yi, shall carve this debt of gratitude into my very soul for all eternity."

"We serve the same faction," Wu Yuan replied with a warm smile. "Supporting each other is only natural."

Though their interactions had been limited, Wu Yuan appreciated Dong Yi's refreshingly direct nature.

"Support is one matter, but a debt is quite another," Dong Yi responded, his voice solemn. "Once I secure a safe location, I intend to utilize the Chaos Jade Crystal immediately."

"Use it immediately?" Wu Yuan's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Won't you return to the Eldritch Court first to make thorough preparations?"

Weaker individuals like True Saint He Wu and True Saint Gu’e had simply vanished after claiming their prizes, too afraid to show themselves or even exit the Tenth Chaos Void for fear of ambush.

Wu Yuan knew that powerhouses like True Saint Qing Yan and True Saint Sha Yin had swiftly departed to their respective factions after securing their crystals.

After all, the Chaos Jade Crystal was an auxiliary treasure for Dao comprehension. Using it hastily would inevitably yield suboptimal results. Ideally, one would first establish defense arrays, consume specific medicinal pills, and wait for the best moment to refine and extrapolate one's Dao, maximizing its effects.

Given Dong Yi's formidable strength, leaving the Tenth Chaos Void shouldn't present significant challenges.

"There's no need," Dong Yi replied confidently. "I was already hovering at the threshold of the fourth step of my self-created Dao, with intuitions about the path ahead. With this Chaos Jade Crystal, my success is nearly assured. Additional preparations would offer minimal benefit."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the logic. Whether establishing arrays or consuming medicinal pills, the Chaos Jade Crystal itself remained the essential element.

"Most importantly," Dong Yi continued, his expression serious, "I want to help you."

"Help me?" Wu Yuan tilted his head, puzzled.

"Nine Chaos Jade Crystals exist in total. You've encountered two already; a considerable stroke of fortune," Dong Yi explained. "For the remaining three, your chances of encountering them are extremely small. Only the final Chaos Nucleus remains!"

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. He had already abandoned hope for the remaining Chaos Jade Crystals.

"Based on historical patterns, once the Chaos Nucleus emerges, its influence will permeate the entire Tenth Chaos Void, allowing all True Saints to participate in the contest.

"Naturally, only those with Full True Saint power will dare involve themselves in the battle for the Chaos Nucleus," Dong Yi's eyes gleamed with determination. "Though your strength is extraordinary, securing it would still present immense challenges.

"True Saint Luan Hai, Cloud Saint, True Saint Luo Quan—none are opponents to be taken lightly."

Wu Yuan listened attentively.

"I will strive to take the fourth step of my self-created Dao before the Chaos Nucleus manifests," Dong Yi declared, his voice resonating with solemn conviction. "If I succeed, I will devote my full power to aiding your cause.

"Perhaps your friend, True Saint Ming Jian, will also break through after utilizing his Chaos Jade Crystal.

"With our combined assistance, complementing your own formidable strength, your prospects of claiming the Chaos Nucleus will improve dramatically," Dong Yi fixed Wu Yuan with an unwavering gaze.

"You..." Wu Yuan fell momentarily silent, taken aback by the generous offer.

"Of course," Dong Yi added pragmatically, "if I fail to achieve the fourth step by then, or if I cannot emerge from seclusion before the Chaos Nucleus appears, nothing can be done about it."

Wu Yuan felt a surge of gratitude warming his chest.

Indeed, he had played a crucial role in Dong Yi's acquisition of the Chaos Jade Crystal. If not for Wu Yuan occupying numerous True Saints, especially Shen Yan, Dong Yi would have struggled to escape unscathed.

Yet while the debt was significant, it hardly seemed to warrant such an extraordinary gesture. Dong Yi's offer essentially meant surrendering his own opportunity to compete for the Chaos Nucleus.

If Dong Yi successfully took the fourth step, his power would undoubtedly place him among the strongest contenders for the Chaos Nucleus. Yet he was willingly relinquishing this chance? At their level of cultivation, especially as members of the same faction, promises were never made lightly.

"Very well," Wu Yuan finally responded. "Dong Yi, I thank you for your generosity." He didn't refuse the offer. If Dong Yi were to provide his full support during the struggle for the Chaos Nucleus, it would indeed significantly alter the balance of power.

After all, even among allies within the same faction, self-interest typically prevailed, making genuine cooperation exceptionally rare.

...

Time flowed like an unstoppable current.

In what seemed like a mere moment, another three thousand years had elapsed. The seventh and eighth Chaos Jade Crystals had emerged, materializing far from Wu Yuan's location. He could not compete for either.

The seventh Chaos Jade Crystal fell to True Saint Luo Quan after a fierce struggle.

The eighth was seized by True Saint Yin Yu from Wan Yu Tower. During this conflict, Yin Yu demonstrated terrifying power, defeating the combined might of True Saint Meng Guan, True Saint Shen Yan, and True Saint Pu Yang.

Notably, True Saint Shen Yan had once again deployed his Divine Eye artifact, yet still suffered a crushing defeat.

The battle raged with unprecedented ferocity, with Yin Yu emerging triumphant, forcing his opponents to retreat repeatedly under his relentless assault.

"True Saint Yin Yu has taken the fourth step."

Waves of astonishment rippled through the various factions, all shaken by this revelation.

Another True Saint had taken the fourth step?

...

Beneath the dim void, on a vast, desolate continent of ancient ruins, Wu Yuan's ether body strolled contemplatively.

The Wan Yu Tower has lowered me to sixth place on the True Saint Rankings?

Wu Yuan observed the revised hierarchy with mild interest.

The fifth-ranked position now belonged to True Saint Yin Yu, who had previously occupied the eighth position.

Wu Yuan accepted it without complaint. After all, Yin Yu had taken the fourth step and indeed possessed greater power than Wu Yuan's body refiner self.

Beyond True Saint Tian Chan, four True Saints have now taken the fourth step of their self-created Dao.

Wu Yuan mused.

A truly rare occurrence.

Indeed, it was extraordinary, equivalent to three or four Dao Zenithels emerging in a single era. This was a phenomenon rarely witnessed since the Primordium.

How many Dao Zenithels existed in the entire cosmic sea? Even a single Dao Zenithel represented a pillar of strength for any major power.

Breaking through to the next step of one's self-created Dao is truly arduous.

Wu Yuan murmured.

His ether body wandered unhurriedly, observing the remnants of a forgotten civilization scattered across this ruined landscape. The ancient structures, the crumbling edifices, all evoked a peculiar emotion within him.

Letting my mana body use the Chaos Jade Crystal indeed produces inferior results.

Wu Yuan reflected.

Seven thousand years, and still no breakthrough.

Seven thousand years had passed since he obtained the Chaos Jade Crystal.

During this vast span, as additional Chaos Jade Crystals emerged one after another, Wu Yuan's ether body had intervened multiple times in various conflicts.

His mana body, however, had remained concealed; partly to hide its whereabouts, but primarily because it had immediately begun refining the Chaos Jade Crystal, attempting to take the fourth step of its self-created Dao.

The Chaos Jade Crystal's effects were undeniably remarkable, yet advancing a top-tier self-created Dao from the third step to the fourth remained monumentally difficult.

I still have three thousand years to go; there’s no need for haste. At the current rate of derivation, a breakthrough might occur at any moment.

Wu Yuan remained serene and patient.

Within his grotto-heaven world, countless streams of radiant light danced around a white-robed figure seated cross-legged upon the vast earth. The Chaos Jade Crystal embedded in his heart pulsed with endless brilliance, continuously releasing waves of mysterious energy.

This energy merged with his soul, plunging Wu Yuan's mana body, and even his qi refiner self far away, into a profound state of epiphany.

Endless insights cascaded through his consciousness, constantly refining and perfecting his self-created Dao.

His qi refiner self meditated deeply in his Saint Realm in the Ling Jiang Universe. Within his spirit, the boundless Dream Universe shifted and transformed.

...

Another thousand years went by.

The ninth Chaos Jade Crystal had yet to appear, and the entire Tenth Chaos Void gradually settled into an uneasy tranquility.

My qi refiner self still hasn't broken through?

Wu Yuan furrowed his brow, feeling a twinge of disappointment.

In terms of accumulated experience, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self undeniably lagged behind those Full True Saint powerhouses who had cultivated for dozens or hundreds of samsara cycles.

Suddenly, Wu Yuan's ether body felt a subtle tremor in his heart. His gaze shot toward the distant void as he perceived a faint, almost imperceptible ripple brushing against his consciousness.

It's done? The third step?

So this is the third step of my self-created Dao.

A mysterious smile played across Wu Yuan's lips.

I let my mana body use the Chaos Jade Crystal, believing it would accelerate my qi refiner self's breakthrough.

An unintended success from an unexpected source.

Who would have thought my body refiner self would break through first?

Wu Yuan thought to himself as the aura of his ether body began to undergo subtle, profound transformations.