Chapter 1313: Successful Advancement To Dao Zenithel, The Strongest Dao Master (1)

In the dim void of the Tenth Chaos Void, Wu Yuan's ether body descended silently upon a ruined continent, landing amidst countless dilapidated structures. Palaces and buildings of varied architectural styles lay scattered across the desolate landscape.

Could these ruins throughout the ten great Chaos Voids be remnants of the collapse of previous Primordial Epochs, as High Saint Hai Ling suggested?

Wu Yuan pondered, his thoughts turning darker.

The Primordial Cataclysm...What is it exactly? And when will it arrive again?

Once, Wu Yuan had believed that becoming an eternal lifeform meant achieving true immortality, existing forever across the endless river of time. Now, reality seemed far more complex.

Why did all previous eras fade away, turning into these Chaos Voids?

He wondered.

Frostheaven Peak, the Azure Saint Tomb...The Origin Saint seems to be alive, yet why hasn't he shown himself since the Primordial Era?

And what of the Azure Saint, the Great Leader, and Goddess Nüwa? Do they live or have they perished? If alive, where could they possibly be?

This boundless cosmic sea concealed too many secrets, too many unknowns, all waiting for him to discover.

Soon now.

Wu Yuan's ether body settled into lotus position as he gently closed his eyes.

Before, I lacked sufficient strength. I couldn't hope to match Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu or the Heavenly Imperator. Even a chance encounter with any Dao Zenithel could have destroyed me.

But now, I can finally break through.

He thought.

I'll let my qi refiner self make the breakthrough first.

My mana body will take a few thousand years to return. No need to rush.

...

Wu Yuan's mana body spent several thousand years returning from the Tenth Chaos Void to the Ninth. Then, following a spacetime corridor in the Ninth Chaos Void, he exited the Chaos Void without encountering any obstacles.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu was right. Even one as mighty as Dao Zenithel Wan Yu can only sense the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure's aura through the Eternal Register.

Wu Yuan realized.

As for my mana body's whereabouts? He cannot divine that.

As the Spacetime Dao Master, though not yet a Dao Zenithel, his ability to conceal his own destiny and karma was formidable.

Let's go!

Wu Yuan swiftly traveled from the Chaos Void toward the River of Universes along the Saint Realm passage. After another two thousand years, his mana body finally returned to the River of Universes.

First, he had the numerous treasures carried by his mana body delivered to his body refiner self via Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Then, Wu Yuan's mana body returned to the Ling Jiang Universe.

...

"Over six thousand years without any news?"

"Given Wu Yuan's strength, he should have long since escaped the Tenth Chaos Void." Imperial Majesty Dong Huo, Dao Zenithel Bai Lian, Ancestral Saint Eastmoon and other powerhouses grew restless, sending messages to Dao Zenithel Wan Yu one after another.

As the apex beings of the cosmic sea, they possessed ample patience, yet none wished to wait forever.

"Don't be impatient. Wu Yuan remains within the Tenth Chaos Void. He simply hasn't moved for some time," Dao Zenithel Wan Yu replied. "I suspect he's had some insights and decided to cultivate briefly.

"But he can't wait indefinitely. He'll need to return to his own Saint Realm for the breakthrough eventually.

"I can guarantee that if the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure leaves the Tenth Chaos Void, it won't escape my detection," Dao Zenithel Wan Yu assured Ancestral Saint Eastmoon.

Though various factions harbored doubts, it had only been a few thousand years. They could still afford to wait.

In the void not far from the Tenth Chaos Void, Dao Zenithel Wan Yu sat cross-legged, his white hair falling loosely, giving him a kindly appearance.

Is he truly cultivating?

He wondered.

Or has the Eldritch Court guessed our plan to seize the treasure? Could it be Hou Tu? Does she know my Eternal Register's secret?

Or perhaps it's Wu Yuan himself? As a fellow Ancestral Pagoda Archon, could he have received guidance from the Ancestral Pagoda?

Wan Yu furrowed his brow.

But that should be impossible. He's only a True Saint now; he hasn't even made contact with the Ancestral Pagoda's true form.

Though skilled in divination, he still had limits and was not omniscient.

If Wu Yuan had heard these musings, he would have been utterly shocked. Ancestral Pagoda Archon? Dao Zenithel Wan Yu was actually one of the three Ancestral Pagoda Archons?

...

Billions of years passed in the Ling Jiang Universe. With the establishment of the Ming Jian Saint Realm, the previously fragmented Saintdoms had unified, bringing peace to the entire universe.

Increasing numbers of Astral Monarchs and Sovereigns attempted to join the Saint Realm as disciples. Though the true extent of True Saint Ming Jian's renown in the cosmic sea remained beyond what sempiternal lifeforms could comprehend, even occasional hints of information left countless beings dumbfounded.

Throughout the universe, nearly all Sovereigns knew that, come the next samsara cycle of heaven and earth, True Saint Ming Jian would control the entire universe.

Outside the vast Saint Realm, at one of the eight spacetime passages, a massive array had been established. A multitude of sempiternal lifeforms had gathered here.

"When will the Saint Realm gates open next?" one asked.

"I don't know."

"The last opening was over 30 million years ago," many sempiternal lifeforms whispered among themselves.

"I heard that when the Saint Realm gates first opened, Overlord Qian Yang was taken by the Saint Hall. He was only an Astral Monarch then, but in just a few billion years, he's already become a fourth-stage Overlord! They say True Saint Ming Jian accepted him as a nominal disciple." [1]

"That must be true!"

"Overlord Qian Yang is now a prominent figure throughout the universe, with strength approaching Overlord Bei Zhen." Several Sovereigns exchanged words, their voices tinged with envy.

"The True Saint has taken many nominal disciples and instructs them wholeheartedly. Legend says he's trying to nurture an eternal lifeform."

"That must be why he recruits so many disciples." This was precisely why most of these sempiternal lifeforms had gathered here.

Over tens of billions of years, True Saint Ming Jian had widely recruited disciples. He now had over a hundred nominal disciples, though he had yet to take any direct disciples. Of course, even his nominal disciples were astounding, with more than ten Overlords emerging from them.

This was why many sempiternal lifeforms from various Saintdoms could no longer restrain themselves, all hoping to join the Saint Realm.

Forces like the Desolation Divine Court and other Saintdoms simply let it happen. And in the last tens of millions of years, they no longer dared interfere. The Saintdoms had few restrictions on Sovereigns to begin with, and while sempiternal lifeforms might not know Ming Jian's true reputation, the True Saints behind these Saintdoms certainly did. Since they were destined to abandon the Ling Jiang Universe, there was no need to concern themselves with the hundred thousand Sovereigns born from this samsara cycle.

Suddenly, a faint hum echoed as a spacetime ripple passed by, causing the entire Saint Realm to tremble slightly. This immediately drew the attention of many Sovereigns waiting outside.

"Did spacetime just fluctuate?"

"It seems so."

"It was very faint. Perhaps an Overlord passing by accidentally leaked a trace of their power?" Though surprised, the Sovereigns quickly relaxed. This was a gate of the Saint Realm. Who would dare act recklessly here?

While the Sovereigns outside only sensed it vaguely, the Overlords within the Saint Realm, and even the Perennials and Saints, felt it very clearly.

"What's happening?"

"The entire Saint Realm just trembled." Powerhouses like Overlord Lan Yan and Overlord Bei You were shocked. The Saint Realm trembling? This had never happened before.

In an instant, a gentle voice reached the ears of all Overlords and eternal lifeforms in the Saint Realm: "I was practicing a special secret art. There's no need for alarm, and don't spread this information."

"It's the True Saint's voice!"

"The True Saint actually spoke to me—what an honor!"

"It's the great True Saint!" Many powerhouses displayed expressions of excitement before bowing respectfully toward the void. "Understood."

Wu Yuan's current qi refiner self, now nearly invincible among True Saints, was indeed worthy of being called ‘great’.

Within the essence space of the Saint Realm, a place these Saint Realm powerhouses could neither sense nor enter, the Saint Realm’s essence manifested, emanating waves of self-created Dao radiance that spread continuously in all directions.

When Wu Yuan's mana body returned, his well-prepared qi refiner self immediately harnessed the Saint Realm’s essence, pushing directly for a breakthrough.

His self-created Dao radiance blossomed.

His self-created Dao profundities fused with the Saint Realm’s essence.

His Eternal Psyche merged with the Saint Realm’s essence, transforming the essence in an astonishing manner.

Rumble~

The previously calm essence of the Saint Realm emitted terrifyingly powerful fluctuations as strands of Dao patterns and divine order appeared in the void before merging into the Saint Realm's essence, making it even more formidable.

The breakthrough begins. The Saint Realm’s essence is transforming.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self devoted himself fully, not daring to be negligent. Yet after just a moment, he realized all his previous concerns had been unnecessary.

The breakthrough was as simple as eating or drinking.

Effortlessly, the Saint Realm’s essence broke through its shackles, swiftly evolving toward an Eternal Realm’s essence along the path of his self-created Dao’s profundities.

I see.

Wu Yuan realized.

Many True Saints don't dare break through because the foundation of their self-created Daos aren’t strong enough. Without Dao Zenithel ultimate techniques, there's always a risk. But my qi refiner self's ultimate techniques are nearly at Peak Dao Zenithel level.

With a top-tier self-created Dao, my foundation is already strong enough.

Though the self-created Dao insights of his two true selves couldn't be shared, their memories remained connected. The many ultimate techniques his body refiner self had learned on Frostheaven Peak were also comprehended by his qi refiner self.

Without the battles with ultimate technique spirits in the consciousness realms and lacking the support of a Chaos Nucleus during its deductions, his qi refiner self gained fewer benefits overall.

Nevertheless, these past sixty million years were equivalent to several billion years of normal cultivation, allowing his qi refiner self to advance considerably, with physical attacks no weaker than True Saint Luan Hai.

Breaking through to Dao Zenithel? It was easy.

The transformation of the Saint Realm's essence caused the entire Saint Realm to tremble. Many beings within sensed it, though the impact wasn't severe.

Just as Wu Yuan relaxed his guard, he started suddenly. "The essence of the Great Dao?"

With a thunderous rumble, a spacetime appeared beside the Saint Realm’s essence, already enveloped in self-created Dao radiance. A vast, majestic wave of terrifying power spread outward.

The fluctuations of the Great Dao of Spacetime rippled outward with limitless power! In sheer might, it far surpassed many Dao Zenithels Wu Yuan had encountered, seeming to be part of the Primordium itself.

In that instant, as the Spacetime Dao Master, Wu Yuan understood—this was the manifestation of the Great Dao of Spacetime's essence.

The essence of the Great Dao existed everywhere, yet even Dao Masters could only vaguely sense its presence in the depths of their consciousnesses, unable to truly reach it. Yet now, the essence of the Great Dao had manifested in reality.

Whoosh!

Visible to the naked eye, strange streams of light flowed from the essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime, pouring frantically into Wu Yuan's transforming Saint Realm’s essence, making its metamorphosis even more astonishing.

With a thunderous rumble, the power emanating from the Saint Realm’s essence grew increasingly terrifying, that overwhelming might nearly impossible to contain.

This? This!

Wu Yuan was shocked.

Such terrifying power, once unleashed, could engulf the entire Ling Jiang Universe instantly. News of his breakthrough would immediately be impossible to conceal.

Contain it!

Wu Yuan exerted himself to the utmost to suppress the spreading aura.

Yet simultaneously, Wu Yuan understood why this was happening.

Dao Master! So that's it! No wonder one Dao Master after another could break through to Dao Zenithel with their superior self-created Daos without difficulty.

Wu Yuan finally grasped the truth.

Previously, he had been puzzled as to why it was so easy for Dao Masters to break through. Though he knew it was related to the essences of the Great Daos, he hadn't understood the specifics.

Logically, even if Dao Masters became Dao Zenithels, the weak foundations of their self-created Daos meant their Eternal Realms should have been weaker than other Dao Zenithels. Yet in reality, they were only slightly inferior, with no great disparity.

Now, Wu Yuan understood clearly.

Bestowed by the Great Dao! A gift from the Primordium! This is the Authority that belongs to Dao Masters.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self revealed a mysterious smile.

1. yup the name is recycled from the Azure Saint Tomb arc ☜