Chapter 1314: Successful Advancement To Dao Zenithel, The Strongest Dao Master (2)

The progress of a Dao Master could be divided into three major stages:

The first stage was during the sempiternal lifeform phase, when they could only bear a strand of the Great Dao's Authority. They were merely close to the essence of the Great Dao, enabling their comprehension to skyrocket, but they could not be called a true Dao Master yet.

The second stage spanned from Perennial to True Saint. Their consciousness had perfectly merged with the essence of the Great Dao, but their strength wasn’t sufficient to control the Great Dao's Authority. At this stage, the essence of the Great Dao primarily assisted with cultivation and comprehending one's self-created Dao.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The third stage came with reaching the Dao Zenithel stage, when the Saint Realm transformed into an Eternal Realm. Only with the Eternal Realm's power could one bear the full might of the Great Dao's essence. At this stage, one became a true Dao Master.

For other Dao Masters, their self-created Daos are weak, and their Eternal Realms are initially very weak. Yet with the essences of the Great Daos, they can greatly compensate for these deficiencies.

A glimmer shone in Wu Yuan's eyes.

But my Eternal Realm is already no weaker than the Eternal Realms of other Dao Zenithels.

With the added empowerment of the essence of the Great Dao...

Wu Yuan's heart surged with exhilaration. His initial assumption had been modest, thinking that his breakthrough would merely elevate his qi refiner self to an ordinary Dao Zenithel who wielded a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure. Now, he knew that there was room for far greater potential.

A gift from the Primordium; this is the best opportunity.

He realized.

Full power! Endure it!

Wu Yuan commanded himself, channeling every ounce of his strength into the transformation.

The process thundered through his being. The essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime and the Eternal Realm’s essence existed in separate spacetimes, yet intricate, dazzling Dao patterns formed between them. These patterns catalyzed the transformation of the Eternal Realm’s essence, which continuously absorbed the essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime, growing increasingly powerful with each moment.

Transform!

Wu Yuan urged.

Stronger.

Gritting his teeth, he forcibly maintained the process, feeling the Eternal Realm's rapid metamorphosis. It was a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than before.

...

Three days passed in what seemed like an instant. By now, the Saint Realm had transformed into an Eternal Realm.

Drip!

Finally, when the essence had transformed to a certain level, a ripple emanated from the core of the essence, radiating vast power.

Dao Zenithel mana!

The first stream of mana produced by the transformation.

Wu Yuan understood.

The Saint Realm’s essence has officially metamorphosed into an Eternal Realm’s essence. This stream of mana is approximately 960 times more powerful than before the breakthrough.

Typically, the transition from True Saint to Dao Zenithel led to a roughly thousandfold increase in mana power, though individual variations occurred. Those with exceptionally powerful self-created Daos might be slightly stronger, while those with weaker self-created Daos produced somewhat less potent mana, but the differences were usually marginal. As one's self-created Dao was further refined and the Eternal Realm strengthened, mana power naturally increased further. [1]

However, my Eternal Realm's essence continues to transform.

Wu Yuan noted. He focused intently, maintaining the process with unwavering concentration.

Another half a day elapsed.

At last, the essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime fully concealed itself once more, and the essence space returned to normal.

Everything appeared unchanged, apart from the Eternal Realm's essence which now radiated boundless light. Divine radiance stretched for ten thousand li, more than a thousandfold stronger than before.

Eternal Dao light, immortal through the ages.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self observed, hovering in the sky of the essence space.

Only an Eternal Realm of such strength and magnitude can survive the tribulation of universal samsara.

In the cyclical destruction and rebirth of heaven and earth, Saint Realms born within a universe would be annihilated.

The additional half-day allowed my Eternal Realm's essence to grow exceptionally powerful. The mana it produces is approximately 1400 times that of a Standard True Saint.

Wu Yuan examined the stream of Dao Zenithel mana flowing across his palm.

The mana power of Standard Dao Zenithels was typically a thousandfold that of True Saints. Yet Wu Yuan's was 1400 times greater—an astonishing 40% advantage that signified his Eternal Realm’s superior foundation. In time, as his Eternal Realm expanded to its limits, his mana recovery rate would also vastly outpace others.

And this is before controlling a universe.

Wu Yuan thought, stepping forward as his true self entered the Eternal Realm's essence.

Once I command the universe, my power will only grow. I might even rival Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu right away.

Before his breakthrough, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had shared many secrets about Dao Zenithel with Wu Yuan, including details about her own capabilities.

When she first broke through, her mana was approximately 1200 times that of a Standard True Saint. Later, as she gained dominion over the Eldritch Court Universe, her power reached about 1800 times, nearly twice that of an ordinary Dao Zenithel's, not counting her other advantages.

Now to transform the Eternal Psyche.

Wu Yuan focused. His Eternal Psyche radiated streams of light that merged with the Eternal Realm's essence.

Whoosh!

Beneath the veil of eternal Dao light, Wu Yuan's Eternal Psyche began its transformation to a higher level. Simultaneously, the mana within the Eternal Psyche transformed, albeit gradually.

This slow pace was unavoidable. While the Eternal Realm's essence power determined total mana strength, the vastness of the Eternal Realm itself dictated mana recovery speed.

Though I've broken through, my Eternal Realm has yet to expand, so the absorption of external Xiantian qi streams and Xuanhuang qi remains slow, as does mana recovery.

Wu Yuan acknowledged calmly.

Once the battle concludes, I can expand the Eternal Realm, reaching my zenith.

Unlike the Eternal Realm's essence's transformation, the evolution of the Eternal Psyche involved numerous aspects of the divine body, proceeding at an exceedingly slow pace.

A full one thousand passed before Wu Yuan's qi refiner self's Eternal Psyche finally achieved perfection, with mana circulating flawlessly throughout its divine body.

At last, I have truly become a Dao Zenithel.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self stood suspended in the void, his eyes gleaming.

The pressure emanating from him exceeded his previous self by more than a thousandfold.

Wu Yuan extended his hand and gently closed his fist. He sensed that he could effortlessly tear apart spacetime itself.

Now, with one casual slap, I could probably crush True Saint Luan Hai.

He murmured.

Such was a Dao Zenithel's might. Their boundless, majestic mana granted inconceivable strength.

The Ling Jiang Universe.

With mere thought, Wu Yuan's consciousness extended. One billion light-years, ten billion light-years... In an instant, the entire Ling Jiang Universe spanning trillions of light-years lay before him.

Countless galactic clusters. Innumerable stars. Infinite macrocosms. Endless sempiternal beings and mortal lives... Nothing remained hidden from him. He perceived all.

Now, with a single thought, I could plunge the countless lives across the entire Ling Jiang Universe into extinction.

Yet Wu Yuan's heart remained tranquil.

He finally understood why Dao Zenithels were forbidden from descending into the River of Universes. As Dao Zenithels, they wielded incomparable might and could effortlessly destroy universe after universe. The essence of the River of Universes and the Primordial Rules existed partly to prevent this. Though a Dao Zenithel's vitality couldn't match a universe's, universes remained without a consciousness, with most of their power dedicated to nurturing vast spacetimes and lifeforms. Dao Zenithels, however, had all their power concentrated within a single body.

River of Universes?

Through his Eternal Realm's essence, Wu Yuan vaguely sensed the entire spacetime of the River of Universes. If he wished, he could project an incarnation anywhere within it.

Yet he refrained from doing so.

If I were to project myself across the River of Universes' spacetime, the Heavenly Imperator would likely detect it.

Wu Yuan decided, shaking his head slightly. The time to reveal his qi refiner self's advancement to Dao Zenithel wasn’t ripe.

The essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime.

Wu Yuan's eyes darkened, as if piercing infinite spacetime.

Whoosh~

Taking one step, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self entered the realm of the Great Dao of Spacetime's essence.

Once, the essence of Spacetime seemed vast and majestic, far beyond my grasp. I could only sense it, barely invoking its power.

Wu Yuan reflected.

And now?

Perfect control! The ability to enter at will! This was the mark of a true Dao Master.

Azure Saint Tomb, spacetime teleportation!

Through the Great Dao of Spacetime's essence, Wu Yuan faintly perceived the various regions of the boundless cosmic sea.

Countless Saint Realms! Eternal Realms! Every corner of the Nine Megaverses Spacetime—so vast that even Dao Zenithels might not visit every region in their lifetimes.

Merely one hour later, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self emerged from twisted spacetime, arriving in the void outside the Azure Saint Tomb. In the distance stood that towering spire stretching over a hundred light-years, its chilling fissure still visible.

The Dao fluctuations cannot penetrate it? Is that why I can't teleport inside?

Wu Yuan wondered, shaking his head.

Any place that the Great Dao of Spacetime permeated, he could swiftly reach by teleporting through higher spacetime dimensions. His speed surpassed ordinary Dao Zenithels by over ten thousand times. This was the Authority of the Spacetime Dao Master.

Traveling this way, I must be moving through the legendary Primordium dimension, or a layer very near it.

Wu Yuan realized. [2]

He didn't fully comprehend the principles behind it. As a Dao Master, this ability manifested as an innate divine power after he became a Dao Zenithel.

Of course, this technique wasn't omnipotent. The cosmic sea held many mysterious places impervious to the Great Dao of Spacetime—the eight elite exploration sites, numerous Saint Realms, Eternal Realms... Nevertheless, this ability made Wu Yuan's qi refiner self nearly untouchable.

With this skill alone, almost none in the cosmic sea could kill him.

When facing other Dao Zenithels, as long as spacetime isn't completely sealed or the Great Dao of Spacetime isolated, I can come and go freely.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self smiled faintly.

At last, he understood why Senior Tian Xu commanded such respect even from Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. This single ability stood unmatched across the cosmic sea.

Among the Primordium's ten Great Daos, it was no exaggeration to rank the Great Dao of Spacetime in first place.

Hmm?

Wu Yuan turned suddenly.

He sensed three mysterious fluctuations emanating from the far reaches of the cosmic sea, creating an intangible pull.

One must be the Samsara Sword I've already claimed.

Wu Yuan observed, his eyes gleaming.

The other two...Could they be the remaining Xuanhuang Dao Treasures?

The Spacetime lineage possesses three Xuanhuang Dao Treasures.

These two should be under Senior Tian Xu's control, correct?

After a moment's consideration, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self merged into the essence of the Great Dao of Spacetime, swiftly following their pull.

...

Meanwhile, within the Ling Jiang Universe, Wu Yuan's mana body began merging with the Eternal Realm's essence, initiating its Eternal Psyche's breakthrough.

Almost simultaneously, in the Long Shan Universe, the Saint Realm created by Wu Yuan's body refiner self experienced subtle tremors. Many Saint Realm powerhouses detected these disturbances, but Wu Yuan's body refiner self quickly offered reassuring explanations.

Within the essence space, Wu Yuan's body refiner self sat in lotus position.

My qi refiner self's breakthrough proceeded smoothly.

He observed, gazing at the distant manifested Saint Realm's essence.

Now it's the body refiner self's turn.

His self-created Dao's radiance spread outward, enveloping the Saint Realm's essence, gradually initiating its transformation. Compared to his qi refiner self's breakthrough, however, this process seemed considerably more challenging. The Saint Realm's essence transformed with excruciating slowness.

This slowly?

Wu Yuan's body refiner self frowned slightly in surprise.

There's no apparent bottleneck or danger.

Having begun the breakthrough, there was no turning back. Though his body refiner self's self-created Dao set a strong foundation, having taken only the third step, unforeseen complications remained possible.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

My qi refiner self has arrived.

Wu Yuan's body refiner self noted, a gleam in his eyes.

Continue cultivating.

His focus remained entirely on maintaining the Saint Realm's essence's transformation.

...

Deep within the cosmic sea, in absolute darkness where even dust motes were absent, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self emerged from twisted spacetime, gazing into the distant void.

This place likely marks the fringes of the Nine Megaverses Spacetime.

Wu Yuan thought.

The Great Dao of Spacetime's fluctuations have grown extremely faint.

Those two Xuanhuang Dao Treasures seem to be in that region.

Wu Yuan hesitated, an intense sense of danger prickling at his awareness.

As he deliberated whether to proceed—

"Wu Yuan, since you've come, why not sit with me for a while?" A warm voice resonated from nowhere, echoing through infinite spacetime.

A beam of rosy light appeared suddenly, radiating from beyond endless spacetime, extending instantly to Wu Yuan's feet.

"Senior Tian Xu?" Wu Yuan sensed the other's distinctive aura.

1. it’s not stated whether mana power refers to quantity or quality, so I’ll just assume it encompasses both. ☜

2. quick recall: River of Universes dimension (lowest), cosmic sea dimension, Primordium dimension (highest) ☜