Chapter 1305: The Primordium In A Thought, Curtain Call (1)

"Your saber technique is truly unique and brilliant. I can scarcely offer better guidance," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu remarked with genuine admiration. "Once you break through to Dao Zenithel, the power of this single strike would almost reach the Peak Dao Zenithel level."

Peak Dao Zenithel level? Wu Yuan pondered thoughtfully.

Throughout these one million years, his ether body had cultivated within the depths of the mysterious Frostheaven Peak. In that span of time, he had fully comprehended over ten thousand True Saint ultimate techniques. As for the nearly one thousand Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques, he hadn't mastered them all. Even so, the accumulation of all these insights was already unfathomably deep.

Four hundred thousand years ago, the Five Moves of Destruction had inspired Wu Yuan to begin crafting a new saber technique. It began to take shape two hundred thousand years ago, after which he sought Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's guidance. Since then, he had withdrawn into seclusion, refining and deriving it.

Not long ago, the technique underwent another transformation.

“From your assessment, it seems I still fall somewhat short compared to Eldritch Progenitors like Zhu Rong and Xuan Ming," Wu Yuan said with a smile tugging at his lips.

"Making progress as a Dao Zenithel is incredibly difficult," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu sighed. "That you could improve so dramatically in such a brief time is already inconceivable. Clearly, you gained some remarkable opportunities during the contest for the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure."

Wu Yuan acknowledged this with a slight nod.

Indeed, Dao Zenithels found it extraordinarily difficult to make progress. Through years of exchanges with Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, Wu Yuan had gained insight into the levels of power at the Dao Zenithel stage.

For those like Cloud Saint and True Saint Yan Huo who had taken the fourth step, if they broke through to become Dao Zenithels without creating a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique, they would rank at the very bottom. Their combat power would be classified at the early-stage Dao Zenithel level.

Such powerhouses were rare among Dao Zenithels and seldom appeared in public, preferring instead to cultivate in seclusion to create ultimate techniques.

Then there were those like True Saint Luan Hai who had created a Dao Zenithel ultimate technique. Once they broke through, after nurturing a Chaos Treasure perfectly attuned to themselves using the essence of their Eternal Realm, they would possess mid-stage Dao Zenithel combat power. These were the Standard Dao Zenithels.

This category constituted the majority of Dao Zenithels: figures like Dao Zenithel Meng Xing of the Blood Dream Alliance, Dao Zenithel Huang Yue of Nine Peaks, Dao Zenithel Nanga of the Abyss Alliance, and numerous others.

Above them stood those who had created even more powerful ultimate techniques and possessed complete sets of perfectly compatible Chaos Treasures. These were the Peak Dao Zenithels who possessed late-stage Dao Zenithel combat power—a level that included figures like Immortal Eminence Jiu You, Eldritch Progenitor Zhu Rong, and Eldritch Progenitor Xuan Ming. Most Dao Masters also belonged to this tier.

Peak Dao Zenithels commanded tremendous respect in the cosmic sea, and were considered big shots of various major powers.

Even higher up were the Full Dao Zenithel powerhouses, who wielded pinnacle-stage Dao Zenithel combat power. These were the hegemons of the cosmic sea—beings like the Blood Emperor, Dream Emperor, Ancestral Saint Eastmoon, and Imperial Majesty Dong Huo.

In terms of Dao cultivation alone, Dao Zenithel Wan Yu, Great Emperor Yan Tuo, and Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang also reached the Full Dao Zenithel level. However, those three wielded Xuanhuang Dao Treasures, further raising their power.

And standing at the very summit of the endless cosmic sea were the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu herself.

This was the hierarchy at the highest stage of power. Of course, even ordinary Dao Zenithels, though no match for existences like the Heavenly Imperator, remained absolutely invincible within their own Eternal Realms, fearing no challenger.

"I’ve indeed made some gains," Wu Yuan acknowledged with a slight nod. "However, to seize the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, I still have a long way to go."

"Don’t be discouraged," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said, her voice warm. "Based on what you've shared, your potential surpasses all the others, which is precisely why your trials are the most difficult. But I believe True Saint Luan Hai, True Saint Yin Yu, and the others likely fall far short of your capabilities. Creating a Peak Dao Zenithel ultimate technique in such a brief span would be as impossible as ascending to heaven for them.”

"Mm." Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

"Of course," Hou Tu continued, "you should remain vigilant. I have certain speculations I'd like to share."

"Please speak your mind, Eldritch Progenitor," Wu Yuan said, giving her his full attention.

"This Xuanhuang Dao Treasure you're vying for likely has little connection to your identity as a Dao Master," Hou Tu said, her words measured.

"Oh?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

"From what I know, trials also took place when the various Dao Masters seized their Xuanhuang Dao Treasures in the past. However, the challenges they had to overcome were never this demanding," Hou Tu looked toward Wu Yuan. "If the difficulty had been this high, do you believe those Dao Masters could have succeeded?"

Wu Yuan couldn't help but shake his head.

Among the ten Dao Masters, only Senior Tian Xu was somewhat exceptional. Taking Senior Mountain Daoist as an example, the other nine had created ultimate techniques inferior to what Wu Yuan had already achieved. How could they possibly have passed the trials of the three realms? The other Dao Masters faced similar limitations. Their status as Dao Masters stemmed more from being born earlier rather than possessing greater strength.

"This is merely my speculation," Hou Tu added. "Nevertheless, do your best to vie for the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure."

"I will," Wu Yuan affirmed with a determined nod.

"Now, I shall demonstrate my ultimate technique once more. Observe it as a reference," Hou Tu said, her posture shifting subtly.

"Yes." Wu Yuan stepped back respectfully, watching the projected incarnation of Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu with rapt attention.

Whoosh!

A thread of blood-red light emerged from Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. White and black light streams intertwined around her form, rendering her both mysterious and majestic. This was merely one of her incarnations. It could only demonstrate the profundities of Daos and Laws but couldn’t infuse mana into her techniques. Because its power wasn't overwhelming, Wu Yuan's essence space could comfortably accommodate it.

The Six Paths of Samsara?

Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed in concentration.

Hum~

Countless rays of light interwove. In an instant, six enormous wheels of light materialized behind Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. These wheels interlaced with one another, containing infinite profundities—not transcending the Primordium, yet embodying the core principles that led toward the ultimate end.

Not long after, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu departed, leaving Wu Yuan's body refiner self in the essence space to continue pondering and deducing.

The Six Paths of Samsara.

Wu Yuan reflected inwardly.

This technique bears resemblance to the second move of the Five Moves of Destruction, Convergence, yet diverges in some ways.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's ultimate technique employs the five elements as its foundation, uses life and death as a bridge, takes destiny as its guide... and ultimately harnesses the Dream Universe as a carrier to construct a profoundly real cycle of samsara.

Wu Yuan's perspective had grown incredibly lofty after observing and cultivating countless ultimate techniques. His perspective now ranked among the top tier even among Dao Zenithels.

With Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's personal demonstrations, he had gotten a glimpse into the brilliance of the mind behind this ultimate technique. The conception was ingenious, fantastically imaginative, and utterly unique.

Ingenious! Perfect.

Wu Yuan couldn't help but admire Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's creation. The ultimate technique she had crafted possessed endless power. If used in conjunction with mana, it would surely unleash terrifying might capable of shaking the cosmic sea to its foundations.

It was with this Six Paths of Samsara that Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu stood at the apex of the cosmic sea, the only being who could truly contend against the Heavenly Imperator.

However, Wu Yuan also perceived the flaws in Hou Tu's ultimate technique: it was too complex, too perfect. There was almost no room for improvement. At least from Wu Yuan's current perspective, he couldn't discern how to enhance it further. Adding even the slightest element would only make the Six Paths of Samsara more convoluted, causing it to lose rather than gain strength.

If it cannot progress further, how can one take the fifth step?

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

Vaguely, he sensed that Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's path seemed to have deviated from the correct one somehow. Exactly where this deviation had occurred, Wu Yuan couldn't yet determine.

It's far stronger than my current saber technique, at least. I still cannot create such an ultimate technique

. Wu Yuan thought, his head lowered in deep contemplation. He began drawing insights from the construction of Hou Tu's ultimate technique to derive his own Dao.

...

Within Frostheaven Peak's sixth passageway, deep in the second realm, Wu Yuan's ether body concentrated its consciousness, descending into a consciousness realm to spar with an ultimate technique spirit.

Once I understand how the remaining ultimate techniques were conceived, perhaps I can advance my saber technique another step.

Wu Yuan harbored no illusions about fully comprehending nearly a thousand Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques. Such a feat wasn't realistic. Many Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques were extraordinarily profound. Several gave Wu Yuan the impression that they were not inferior to the Six Paths of Samsara, or at least came very close. And they originated from different self-created Daos.

To fully comprehend them all? That was simply a pipe dream! What Wu Yuan needed was to grasp the ingenious aspects of their construction and extract their essence. Now he was becoming more selective, spending less time on each technique.

There's still over ninety million years remaining. I refuse to believe I cannot pass this trial.

Wu Yuan affirmed to himself.

As his saber technique progressed, he would occasionally challenge that mysterious black-robed man, invariably suffering crushing defeats. Each encounter left him thoroughly beaten. However, the evaluations he received improved steadily, gradually rising from six parts strength to seven parts, then eight parts.

But there was still a way to go.

...

Wu Yuan wasn't alone in his predicament. The other five True Saints faced similar challenges. They had cultivated here for millions of years and had also made tremendous progress.

True Saint Luo Quan and True Saint Yin Yu had both successively made it to the second realm. However, apart from Wu Yuan, no one had managed to cross the second realm into the third.

The trial of this second realm is truly too difficult.

True Saint Luan Hai lamented. Still stuck at this step, his frustration was palpable.

The ultimate technique I've created is clearly stronger, yet I still cannot advance.

Do I truly need to create a Peak Dao Zenithel level ultimate technique?

He wondered, despair creeping into his thoughts.

There’s just no way. Even with this extraordinary opportunity, I cannot possibly create one in just a hundred million years!