Chapter 1301: A Sea Of Ultimate Techniques

Wu Yuan reflected on his progress.

The trial of the first realm was far less challenging than I thought. I completed it with surprising ease.

According to the inscription on the first jade tablet, he would face trials in three realms. Only by conquering all three could one claim the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure. As expected, each subsequent realm would present increasingly tougher challenges.

High Saint Hai Ling mentioned that the trials are individually tailored to our unique characteristics.

Wu Yuan considered.

Yet the overall difficulty of each participant’s trial should remain comparable. After all, regardless of our individual strengths, we remain True Saints at our core.

Being True Saints meant the trials shouldn’t exceed a certain level of difficulty. Wu Yuan had confidence that his ether body's combat power, if not the strongest among True Saints throughout history, certainly approached that level.

So while the second and third trials might be far more challenging, the first trial wouldn’t be able to stop him.

Wu Yuan turned back, his gaze sweeping over the tens of thousands of jade tablets lining both sides of the mountain path.

Once I enter the second realm, will I be able to return here?

Each tablet represented an ultimate technique at the True Saint level.

Over these recent months, Wu Yuan had merely scratched the surface of these ultimate techniques. He'd sparred briefly with each ultimate technique spirit in the consciousness realm before moving on, without truly immersing himself in cultivating them.

Though I've grasped the profundities of these techniques, studying them independently cannot compare to battling their spirits. Meditating on them would yield perhaps a tenth of the benefit and demand far more time.

He stood at a crossroads. Should he advance immediately to the second realm? Or remain here to master these techniques thoroughly first?

Amidst his indecision, a formless ripple washed across the mountain path. Countless motes of light swirled and coalesced into the ethereal figure of a white-robed woman.

"High Saint Hai Ling." Wu Yuan bowed with respect.

"Wu Yuan, hesitation is unnecessary," she said, her voice gentle. "If you fail to overcome the final obstacle of the second realm, you may return here to cultivate and strengthen yourself further."

Her eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as she continued, "Similarly, entering the third realm doesn't bar you from returning to the previous realms. I trust you understand the opportunity presented by these three realms."

"This junior understands," Wu Yuan acknowledged solemnly.

"Excellent," she replied with a warm smile. "I’ve come to share two pieces of information. First, your potential surpasses the rest. Naturally, you are the strongest competitor. Consequently, the trial of your third realm will be the most difficult."

"The most difficult?" Wu Yuan's expression shifted in surprise, having assumed he would have the easiest time among the six.

"But this same principle ensures that the opportunity awaiting you in the third realm will also be the greatest," the white-robed woman explained, a complex emotion flickering across her features. She sighed softly, "Upon entering the third realm, you'll comprehend what I’m saying."

"The greatest opportunity?" Wu Yuan contemplated her words carefully.

"My second message is that True Saint Luan Hai has already entered the second realm," she revealed with a slight smile.

The news startled Wu Yuan.

True Saint Luan Hai had advanced already? With a little contemplation, it wasn't particularly surprising. Luan Hai had already created a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique, and his strength was undeniably impressive. Wu Yuan could also have entered the second realm long ago if he had chosen to prioritize speed over all else.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Wu Yuan said gratefully.

The white-robed woman acknowledged his thanks with a slight nod before dissolving into countless motes of light, leaving the mountain path in silence once more.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan stepped through the shattered stone wall. Spacetime trembled subtly around him, marking his transition into another realm.

Here too, stretched a mountain path, though considerably wider than its counterpart in the first realm. Countless jade tablets stood in solemn rows along both sides, each tablet thicker than those he'd encountered previously. The patterns and inscriptions on them were more intricate and complex, with waves of Dao intent washing over him like a tide.

Ultimate techniques again?

Wu Yuan marveled in astonishment.

These are also ultimate technique tablets, but they seem far more profound.

When Wu Yuan's gaze settled upon one jade tablet, his consciousness swiftly entered another consciousness realm.

At the center of this vast and magnificent world stood a divine tree that pierced heaven and earth, stretching an unfathomable distance in width.

The Nine-Star Celestial Tree?

Wu Yuan recalled the void spirit tree he'd encountered in the Ninth Chaos Void.

Even now, Wu Yuan questioned whether he could truly defeat the Nine-Star Celestial Tree. This divine tree before him bore striking similarities, though careful observation revealed subtle differences. For instance, this tree lacked the nine immense celestial bodies that adorned the original tree’s branches.

The branches of the divine tree swayed with a gentle rustling sound.

"I am the spirit of the ultimate technique created by Imperial Majesty Lu Shui," announced a majestic voice that resonated through endless spacetime, penetrating the depths of Wu Yuan's spirit. "Come, let us battle."

Imperial Majesty Lu Shui? The name sparked confusion in Wu Yuan. He had never encountered this figure in any records.

He surmised this must be one of the world-shaking powerhouses from the same era as the “Great Leader” High Saint Hai Ling had referenced.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The divine tree shuddered violently, thousands upon thousands of branches vibrating simultaneously. The entire world quaked beneath this display as the branches radiated endless light, embodying boundless vitality.

Vitality! Spacetime manipulation!

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Trillions of branches lashed out toward Wu Yuan in unison. Their momentum was overwhelming as they bombarded him from all angles. This was unmistakably a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique of terrifying power.

A Dao Zenithel ultimate technique?

Wu Yuan's pupils constricted in response. Without hesitation, he summoned a saber in his consciousness.

Clang!

The saber left its sheath with a crisp sound. A dazzling blade ray sliced across heaven and earth, cleaving toward the trillions of incoming branches.

At the moment of contact, countless branches shattered into fragments. In the end, only ten thousand branches remained intact, continuing their advance.

It was clear that the majority of branches were merely manifestations of the technique. Only these ten thousand were genuine, imbued with truly formidable power.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Lightning-fast collisions erupted in rapid succession. These ten thousand branches appeared delicate but possessed terrifying resilience.

A single branch had modest power, but they came in endless waves like ocean tides, gradually eroding the might of Wu Yuan's saber technique. Layer upon layer, they completely entangled his attacks, neutralizing their effectiveness.

What a formidable combat technique.

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

Though its raw power matches mine, it has completely suppressed my attack. This technique bears similarities to True Saint Luan Hai's palm technique, yet seems far more ingenious in execution.

Truly extraordinary!

This ultimate technique represented the principles of ultimate flexibility and ultimate softness while simultaneously containing boundless vitality. It immediately sparked profound inspiration within Wu Yuan.

After battling for an extended period, Wu Yuan dissolved his saber with a thought. His consciousness body dispersed as he exited this consciousness realm, returning to the quiet, peaceful mountain path.

This Imperial Majesty Lu Shui must have been a truly remarkable Dao Zenithel.

Wu Yuan concluded.

The battle had merely allowed him to experience this ultimate technique briefly.

Let's continue examining the other ultimate techniques.

Wu Yuan decided as he advanced along the path.

He devoted a few hours to each ultimate technique tablet, battling and sparring with their spirits before moving on.

Each tablet represented a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique of exquisite brilliance, containing abilities of such terrifying power that Wu Yuan found himself repeatedly astonished and enlightened.

So many Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques?

He marveled silently.

I've briefly studied over four hundred, and judging from what I see ahead, this second realm likely contains nearly a thousand in total. In comparison, the Eldritch Progenitor Hall of the Eldritch Court houses fewer than a hundred Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques.

It was truly unbelievable.

True, Dao Zenithels cultivated for countless ages and could create various ultimate techniques, but once a powerhouse's self-created Dao took definitive shape, fundamental changes became exceedingly difficult. Moreover, to earn the designation of “ultimate technique”, a technique must be extraordinarily profound, serving as the very foundation upon which a powerhouse stood tall in heaven and earth.

Ordinary techniques could never merit such distinction.

Consequently, many Dao Zenithels cultivated for endless ages yet only managed to create two or three ultimate techniques, or sometimes just a single Dao Zenithel ultimate technique.

This is beyond a treasure trove.

Wu Yuan realized.

If the ten thousand True Saint ultimate techniques in the first realm are invaluable, yet still don't match the worth of a Chaos Nucleus, then these thousand Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques in the second realm certainly surpass it immeasurably.

Wu Yuan hadn’t yet personally used a Chaos Nucleus. However, the Chaos Nucleus and Chaos Jade Crystal shared the same lineage, with the Nucleus simply offering greater effects. The Eldritch Court maintained detailed records on these matters.

Additionally, having already used two Chaos Jade Crystals, Wu Yuan clearly understood the general effects a Chaos Nucleus would provide.

Ultimately, the Chaos Nucleus proved most effective for True Saints, rightfully claiming the title of the number one auxiliary treasure for cultivators at that level.

However, for Dao Zenithels deducing their self-created Daos and ultimate techniques, its effects were simply average. Once one reached the Dao Zenithel level, the cosmic sea no longer offered cultivation treasures that could easily catalyze transformative growth.

Though my body refiner self remains at the third step, its Dao far surpasses top-tier self-created Daos and can stand on par with other Dao Zenithels. Chaos Jade Crystals will no longer provide me with much assistance.

Wu Yuan acknowledged.

By comparison, these thousand-odd Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques represented far greater value.

Across the entire cosmic sea, all the Dao Zenithels in the Nine Megaverses Spacetime combined have likely yet to create a thousand ultimate techniques.

Wu Yuan reflected.

This realization forced Wu Yuan to acknowledge that the Great Leader mentioned by High Saint Hai Ling truly transcended conventional understanding.

Wu Yuan could almost visualize it; in the ancient past, during a flourishing golden age, that Great Leader commanded hundreds or perhaps even more Dao Zenithels under his banner. What a breathtaking spectacle that must have been.

Yet even such a prosperous age ultimately succumbed to the passage of time.

Wu Yuan mused.

The countless relic sites scattered throughout the various Chaos Voids of the Ten Chaos Realms likely represent all that remains of those magnificent eras.

This sobering thought sparked an urgent sense of purpose within Wu Yuan.

If even such glorious ages ultimately faded into obscurity, would the Nine Megaverses Spacetime and the endless cosmic sea someday meet the same fate?

Let’s not think too much. First, I must overcome the trial of the third realm.

Wu Yuan now understood why figures like Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and Senior Tian Xu maintained their mysterious nature, reluctant to share many secrets with him.

The more one knew, the greater one's worries and troubles became.

If one's strength remained insufficient, such concerns served no purpose except to burden the mind unnecessarily.

When I reach the level of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and the Heavenly Imperator, I can then properly explore and address those concerns.

Wu Yuan resolved.

He continued advancing along the path.

Suddenly, a glimmer flashed in Wu Yuan's ether body's eyes.

My mana body has broken through, successfully slaying Yan Huo.

The struggles for the Chaos Nuclei and Xuanhuang Dao Treasure occurred simultaneously. Only now had the battle for the Chaos Nuclei concluded.

Three Chaos Nuclei.

Wu Yuan considered thoughtfully.

Ideally, one Chaos Nucleus should be allocated to my body refiner self. With such enhancement, my efficiency in comprehending these ultimate techniques would increase dramatically.

Once utilized, even if it couldn't help him break through his bottleneck, it would enhance his deductive capabilities over a hundred million times.

However, the mana body can wait.

He decided.

It will take thousands of years for my mana body to return anyway. Only a few months have gone by here. If I can pass through the third realm in one attempt, there's no need to rush back.

With this resolved, Wu Yuan pressed onward, methodically examining each jade tablet.

Another year passed in this manner.

He finally completed the preliminary study of nearly a thousand Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques, arriving at the end of this mountain path.

What's this?

Wu Yuan's pupils contracted in surprise.

At the end of the second realm stood not a mountain wall like before, but a man draped in black robes.

From a distance, Wu Yuan couldn't discern the figure clearly. Only as he drew near did the man's features become apparent.

The black-robed man sat calmly, a saber strapped to his back. Though his aura seemed unremarkable, every subtle movement of his radiated a domineering pressure.

"So you've arrived," the black-robed man greeted Wu Yuan with a smile. "Hai Ling mentioned that your talent surpassed the others."

"You're the second of the six challengers to stand before me," he continued. "The previous contender fell when I exerted merely two parts of my power." The man chuckled softly, his eyes assessing Wu Yuan carefully. "Your talent exceeds his, so your strength should prove greater.

“Therefore, I shall face you with three parts of my strength."