Chapter 1283: Cloud Saint's Death (1)

Wu Yuan unleashed the full power of his Eternal Matter Body. His colossal form towered at a million li tall, yet moved with the grace of a dancer. Nine sabers whirled through the void. The blade rays from the Creation Heavenly Saber were particularly menacing, completely suppressing Cloud Saint.

Only with the support of his domain was Cloud Saint able to slip from Wu Yuan's grasp time and again. Without this advantage, he would have fallen long ago beneath Wu Yuan's relentless assault.

Wu Yuan's determination to end Cloud Saint had crystallized into pure killing intent, driven by two powerful motivations. First, over the years, Cloud Saint had slaughtered countless True Saints of the Eldritch Court. Even True Saint Bai Bing had perished at his hands and had yet to be revived. Second, the treasures! Over tens of thousands of years, Cloud Saint had amassed a fortune likely rivaling several Chaos Treasures in value.

Such a kill would yield great rewards.

"Truly fierce," marveled True Saint Luo Quan from a safe distance, his eyes narrowing as he observed the battle. "Even though he’s suppressed by the domain, Wu Yuan's saber strikes repeatedly tear through the domain like silk."

"Dear," a gentle voice whispered in his consciousness, "in terms of pure power, his saber techniques seem even stronger than yours, though not as swift."

Luo Quan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "His power is indeed greater. It's likely related to his artifacts and foundation." He paused, "According to the Ancestral Saint, Wu Yuan was strong even as a sempiternal lifeform. The self-created Dao he pioneered ranks among the greatest in history. With such a powerful foundation, his ether is naturally incredibly strong."

A smile touched his lips as he continued, "However, in terms of pure striking speed, he cannot match me. My Dao allows my strikes to reach speeds that none can equal."

The gentle voice responded with admiration. "Indeed, Dear. You're already that fast with your Xiantian Instrument divine spear. If you were to draw your Chaos Treasure saber, you'd be even more formidable."

To observers, True Saint Luo Quan appeared to specialize in spears, but among eternal powerhouses, a weapon's external form mattered little compared to the profundities of one's self-created Dao. Luo Quan's ultimate trump card and the secret behind his advancement to the fourth step was actually a Chaos Treasure saber obtained from an ancient exploration site.

"Dear," the gentle voice sighed, "True Saint Wu Yuan's killing intent burns like a star. He's fighting as though staking his life on the outcome."

"The conflicts between the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court have always been merciless," Luo Quan replied casually. "Still, Cloud Saint has the advantage in domains. While True Saint Wu Yuan might win this battle, he cannot deliver a killing blow."

"In the Tenth Chaos Void, True Saint Wu Yuan ranks first in self-preservation ability, with Cloud Saint claiming second place."

"Mm." She had complete trust in her Dao companion's assessment.

In the dim expanse of the void, Wu Yuan and Cloud Saint collided with brutal intensity. Each impact resonated with thunderous force, their blades meeting again and again in flashes of power. Their battle had already torn through the boundaries of the array, spilling into the void beyond. Fine cracks spread through the fabric of spacetime, yet neither combatant was affected in the least.

"Let's follow them.” Hundreds of True Saints were still observing from a distance. Though they dared not join the conflict, none wished to miss witnessing such a rare clash of titans.

Cloud Saint suddenly streaked into the distance, leaving behind a shower of crystalline snowflakes that enveloped Wu Yuan, instantly reducing his momentum to a fraction of its former speed.

"Break!" Wu Yuan's roar echoed through the void as a blade ray tore through space. Countless snowflakes disintegrated in its path, and the vast domain itself seemed to split before Wu Yuan. He charged forward once more, closing the distance between them.

They collided with a sound like worlds breaking apart. Cloud Saint used the impact to propel himself backward, widening the gap between them yet again.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan pursued relentlessly, his overwhelming strength allowing him to blast through the domain's restraints, forcing Cloud Saint to engage rather than simply flee.

And so the pattern continued—one pursuing, one fleeing—until they had traversed billions of li through the void, clashing nearly ten times.

"Wu Yuan!" Cloud Saint gnashed his teeth, his face contorted with fury. "Surely you understand that this kind of combat does me no real harm. Your attacks may surpass mine in strength, but as long as I focus on evasion, you could chase me for a hundred thousand or even a million years and still fail to claim my life."

This was the truth. Their powers were too evenly matched, and Cloud Saint's domain gave him a critical advantage. Preserving his life wasn’t difficult.

"A hundred thousand years? A million years and I still can't kill you?" Wu Yuan's gaze hardened to ice. "I’ll make sure you die today."

Without warning, a white-robed figure materialized beside Wu Yuan's ether body. His robes fluttered as he fixed Cloud Saint with a cold, calculating stare.

"True Saint Ming Jian?" Cloud Saint's expression shifted subtly as wariness crept into his eyes. Immediately, he activated his domain to its fullest extent, the snowflakes growing denser and more numerous.

"Ming Jian?"

"So he didn't retreat into seclusion. All this time, he was hidden within True Saint Wu Yuan's grotto-heaven?"

"He must trust Wu Yuan implicitly. Their relationship runs deeper than we thought."

Shock rippled through the hundreds of True Saints and the many observers watching from afar.

No one had anticipated that True Saint Ming Jian, who by all accounts should have been in deep cultivation, had instead been secretly accompanying True Saint Wu Yuan all along.

"What is True Saint Ming Jian doing here?"

"Is he planning to join the battle?"

"With his strength, he could participate, but he's of the Psyche Dream class. Surely his soul attacks would have little effect on Cloud Saint?" Many True Saints couldn't help but speculate along these lines.

Their confusion was understandable. To date, not a single True Saint who had obtained a Chaos Jade Crystal had revealed their advancement from the third to the fourth step of their self-created Dao.

Of course, some harbored suspicions.

"Ming Jian is here. I must flee." Though uncertain whether Ming Jian had broken through, Cloud Saint reinforced his defenses and transformed into a streak of light, his escape growing more desperate.

Suddenly, a resonant hum filled the void as a Primordial Golden Lotus materialized beneath Ming Jian's feet. One by one, golden lotuses blossomed throughout the boundless darkness before violently exploding into clouds of luminous pollen.

The collision between the golden lotus domain and the snowflake domain unleashed a terrifying wave of power. The surrounding hundreds of millions of li of spacetime trembled from the impact.

To the astonishment of all present, in this clash between domains, True Saint Ming Jian's power was only marginally inferior to Cloud Saint's. His golden lotuses furiously entangled with Cloud Saint's drifting snow domain, drastically reducing its effectiveness.

The binding force that had been restricting Wu Yuan's ether body weakened to almost nothing.

Wu Yuan's ether body flickered like lightning, his speed surging as he closed the distance to Cloud Saint in a flash.

Nine blade rays manifested around him, his killing intent surging skyward.

His mightiest technique unfurled before him—Worldforge!

"Your domain? Damn it! This shouldn't be possible!" Cloud Saint roared, his teeth grinding in fury. "Ming Jian, have you also taken the fourth step?"

His assessment was accurate.

After nearly nine thousand years of intensive cultivation bolstered by the Chaos Jade Crystal, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self had finally advanced his self-created Dao from the third to the fourth step.

While changes in the order of life and the advancement to the Dao Zenithel stage required considerable time, the essential breakthrough in one's self-created Dao could occur in an instant. This was why Wu Yuan now possessed the confidence to slay Cloud Saint.

His ether body alone was insufficient. But with the addition of his mana body that had just broken through? Empowered by his recent advancement, the Chaos Treasure, Primordial Golden Lotus, was now far stronger, remarkably close to matching Cloud Saint's domain.

Wu Yuan's mana body’s domain alone was enough to make countless True Saints blanch with fear.

Another thunderous collision shook the void. No longer suppressed, Wu Yuan's ether body displayed terrifying might, overpowering Cloud Saint and sending him reeling from a crushing blow.

Escape.

Cloud Saint muttered. His fingers danced in complex patterns as his entire being transformed into endless streams of snowy light, desperately attempting to flee.

Previously, he had been able to influence Wu Yuan repeatedly with his domain, widening the gap between them with each clash.

Now, Wu Yuan's ether body attacked with greater ferocity, defended more effectively, and moved with unmatched speed. He completely overpowered Cloud Saint, his saber strikes blurring into a crazed barrage that sought to shatter his opponent's Eternal Psyche.

Cloud Saint was sent flying once more, the crystalline radiance surrounding his body noticeably dimmer than before. Yet his face showed little fear; only rage burned in his eyes.

"Ming Jian, you continually interfere in the wars between my Immortal Court and the Eldritch Court. Do you not fear retribution?" Cloud Saint's voice rose to a furious crescendo. "Do you truly mean to side with the Eldritch Court?"

His anger was justified. In Cloud Saint's view, if they were merely competing for treasures, True Saint Ming Jian's participation would be tolerable. But to dare interfere in a life-or-death battle of this magnitude?

Had he not observed how True Saint Luo Quan wisely refrained from involvement?

In truth, True Saint Luan Hai, True Saint Yin Yu, and others were all reluctant to be drawn into the escalating conflict between the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court.

"Are you threatening me?" Ming Jian's voice cut through the void like a blade of ice.

"If the Heavenly Imperator were to threaten me, I might show some restraint. But you? Do you believe I fear you?" His cold laughter echoed across the battlefield. "I have taken the fourth step. Soon, I will control a universe. Others may tremble before your Immortal Court, but I do not.

"If you have the guts, then come and slay me.

"Today, Brother Wu Yuan requested my assistance. So what if I kill you?" Ming Jian's lips curled into a sneer.

The power of his domain intensified, sword lights materializing within the golden lotus field as he exerted his full strength to restrain Cloud Saint.

His words sent shockwaves through all spectators.

"The fourth step."

"Ming Jian admitted it himself. He's already taken the fourth step."

"Another True Saint has broken through. His cultivation speed rivals Wu Yuan's."

"It's not entirely surprising. He must have absorbed the Chaos Jade Crystal that he and True Saint Wu Yuan acquired together."

"True Saint Ming Jian was already at the limit of the True Saint level. With a Chaos Jade Crystal, his breakthrough was inevitable." Countless True Saints and Dao Zenithels whispered in amazement.

Even though it seemed reasonable in hindsight, the reality that another Dao Zenithel was about to emerge, one who had cultivated for merely two billion years, felt dreamlike to the eternal powerhouses scattered throughout the cosmic sea.

"We must leave." The hundreds of Immortal Court True Saints who had been observing the fight in the distance sensed the imminent danger and began to retreat.

Even Cloud Saint, who had taken the fourth step, was on the verge of defeat. What hope did mere Standard True Saints like them have? Once Wu Yuan turned his attention to them, their slaughter would be as effortless as brushing away dust.

"Excellent!"

"Kill him!"

"Slay Cloud Saint!" The True Saints of the Eldritch Court grew increasingly animated as they witnessed True Saint Wu Yuan and True Saint Ming Jian combine their strength against Cloud Saint.

"Dear," the gentle voice inquired in Luo Quan's mind, "with Cloud Saint's remarkable self-preservation abilities, surely he can hold out long enough to escape?"

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"It’s difficult to say," Luo Quan replied softly. "If True Saint Ming Jian were merely restraining him, perhaps. But you must understand that he is a true soul class powerhouse. Intelligence reports indicate he cultivates both the Psyche Arsenal and Psyche Dream classes. His foundation surpasses yours."

The gentle voice fell silent.

"Now that he's broken through, if he unleashes his full power, any True Saint who hasn't taken the fourth step would certainly die," True Saint Luo Quan stated with absolute certainty. "Even for us, survival would be uncertain.

"In raw power, Wu Yuan surpasses me.

"And Ming Jian is stronger than you.

"Their combined strength dwarfs ours," Luo Quan continued thoughtfully. "Even True Saint Luan Hai would likely lose to them... Facing those two will be an immense challenge."

The gentle voice remained silent, recognizing the true terror of Wu Yuan and Ming Jian working in concert.

They were truly invincible.

In the dim void, Cloud Saint continued his desperate flight, alternating between fleeing and defending.

Even without domain restrictions hampering Wu Yuan, he couldn’t do more than suppress Cloud Saint. His opponent's vital aura had barely diminished throughout their prolonged battle.

As expected.

Wu Yuan thought coldly.

Relying solely on physical attacks offers almost no hope of killing him.

This outcome had been within his calculations.

A True Saint who had taken the fourth step possessed far too much power. Their breakthrough fundamentally transformed their Eternal Psyche, granting them vitality that ordinary True Saints could scarcely comprehend.

Put simply: While the attack power of Wu Yuan and True Saint Luan Hai was formidable, they found it nearly impossible to inflict lasting damage on each other. This was why Wu Yuan had confidently withstood Cloud Saint's attacks earlier.

The shield far outmatched the spear.

Since the dawn of the Primordium, True Saints who had advanced to the fourth step of their self-created Dao had almost never fallen, except at the hands of a Dao Zenithel. Their overwhelming vitality made them nearly unkillable.

I must escape.

Cloud Saint continued his desperate flight through the void. When threats proved futile, he resorted to pleading directly with his pursuer. "Ming Jian, if you cease your assault now, I'll offer you a Chaos Treasure of your choosing. What do you say?"

Cloud Saint was acutely aware of Ming Jian's capabilities. The domain techniques were formidable enough, but his soul attacks were truly nightmarish. No one knew the full extent of True Saint Ming Jian's soul attacks. While he could withstand the current attacks, if Ming Jian unleashed his full power, his life might be in jeopardy.

"Not enough!" Ming Jian's voice cut through space like a blade of ice. "Wu Yuan has promised me all of your treasures. Besides, killing you settles our karmic debt. Stop running and accept your death."

"Damn it!" Cloud Saint raged, his fists clenching so tightly. "Damn it all!" His fury echoed across the cosmos, but for all his power, he remained utterly helpless.

Across the vast cosmic sea, countless powerhouses watched the chase with rapt attention.

"Cloud Saint is in trouble.”

"It all comes down to whether he can withstand True Saint Ming Jian's soul attack,"

This was the crucial point that everyone recognized: If Cloud Saint could endure the assault, survival remained possible. If not? His death was all but certain.