Chapter 1335: Four Paths To Apex Strength (1)

Billions of years ago, Dao Zenithel Wan Yu sensed the birth of the third Ancestral Pagoda Archon. Yet the new Archon had yet to visit the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime, nor had they fully activated the Ancestral Pagoda imprint, leaving their identity a mystery.

Later, as Wu Yuan carved his path through the Long Shan Universe, intimidating Perennials and declaring himself the successor of the Creation Dao Master, then finally opened his Saint Realm there, Dao Zenithel Wan Yu pieced together the truth: Wu Yuan must be the newest Ancestral Pagoda Archon. The previous Archon had been Mountain Daoist, and Wu Yuan's succession as the new Creation Dao Master clearly indicated he had inherited Mountain Daoist's legacy. All evidence pointed to this conclusion.

However, Wu Yuan's power was only just beginning to blossom. Even the Heavenly Imperator hadn’t made his move against him, so Dao Zenithel Wan Yu certainly wouldn't take the initiative. Moreover, he was reluctant to antagonize the Eldritch Court, so he simply observed from afar.

Judging by Wu Yuan's self-created Dao and strength, his achievements on both the path of matter and the path of Laws are truly remarkable.

Dao Zenithel Wan Yu contemplated silently.

I wonder which path he will ultimately choose.

Or can he achieve mastery of both paths simultaneously?

He shook his head slightly, then abandoned the thought.

He had no intention of venturing to the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime at the moment. In his early days as a Dao Zenithel, he had attempted it countless times, only to fail repeatedly until the idea withered away entirely.

Control the Ancestral Pagoda?

Dao Zenithel Wan Yu sighed inwardly.

Even Nüwa couldn't manage it, let alone me. I wonder if this Wu Yuan will succeed where others have failed.

The Heavenly Imperator!

His thoughts shifted.

Being absent for so long, he must be plotting something significant.

...

Outside the Nine Megaverses Spacetime, in the eternal darkness, layers of the shimmering nebula encircled the towering, endless Ancestral Pagoda. Wu Yuan's body refiner self stood atop the swirling nebula, eyes closed, deep in meditation.

Four paths, which one will Wu Yuan choose?

The Heavenly Domain Emissary observed from the distant void.

Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's consciousness had descended to a mysterious realm, completely detached from the outside world. He found himself standing at the entrance of a solitary island floating in a boundless space.

This void?

Wu Yuan realized with surprise.

I didn't expect the last Ancestral Pagoda Archon to be Wan Yu.

Dismissing this thought, he surveyed his surroundings. The island was an impenetrable mystery, blocking all his powers from prying into its secrets. Even his soul's activity seemed muted, unable to perceive anything beyond the immediate vicinity.

Here, not only are there no fluctuations of the Great Daos’ essences, but even the Primordial Rules seem absent.

He noted with growing alarm

Suddenly, countless points of light coalesced before him. A four-legged beast with a jet-black body, resembling a panther but with two pairs of gleaming eyes, materialized on the stone path.

"Wu Yuan, welcome to the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime," the creature greeted him in a clear, human voice. Its four eyes glinted with wisdom.

"Origin Spirit?" Wu Yuan couldn't hide his surprise. This was indeed the entity that had appeared multiple times during his journey to becoming an Ancestral Pagoda Archon, claiming to be the spirit of the Ancestral Pagoda itself.

"I am one of the eight Origin Spirits of the Ancestral Pagoda. More specifically, the Origin Spirit bound to your Ancestral Pagoda Archon position," the four-eyed beast explained, noting Wu Yuan's confusion. "As you grew, I gradually recovered my memories. Your arrival in the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime has restored me to a true Origin Spirit."

The beast continued, "If one day you become the controller of the Ancestral Pagoda, then I too will become the true spirit of the Ancestral Pagoda, ranking above all other Origin Spirits."

Wu Yuan nodded with understanding.

"What should I do in this Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime?" he asked.

"Here, there are two guides awaiting you," the four-eyed beast replied with a knowing smile.

"Guides?" Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Under the suppression of the Primordial Rules, many secrets remain hidden. Even the mysteries of the fifth step, Grand Supreme, lie concealed." The beast's voice lowered. "Haven't you noticed? The secrets of the Grand Supremes mainly exist in places where the Primordial Rules cannot reach."

Wu Yuan's pupils contracted as his mind flashed through past experiences. The Origin Spirit was right! The depths of the Azure Saint Tomb concealed great secrets; Frostheaven Peak held the Five Moves of Destruction left by the Great Leader. Throughout the cosmic sea, only Dao Zenithels and a handful of True Saints even knew of the existence of Grand Supremes.

"Grand Supremes cannot be suppressed by the essence of Primordial Rules; that is why they are Grand Supremes," the four-eyed beast said with reverence.

Wu Yuan listened attentively.

"Those two Great Leaders established many rules for the Nine Megaverses Spacetime, and this is one ultimate guide," the beast continued. "There are three such ultimate guides in total."

"The Three Supreme Divine Objects?" Wu Yuan pondered.

"Yes. But the Ancestral Pagoda Spacetime is the core. Here lie four paths to apex strength." The beast's eyes gleamed. "While the Original Sword represents endless destruction and the Heavenly Cauldron embodies endless vitality, each only holds one path to apex strength."

Four paths to apex strength.

Wu Yuan’s interest was piqued.

It seemed the Two Great Leaders had left their ultimate inheritances, direct pathways to the Grand Supreme level, among the Three Supreme Divine Objects.

Wu Yuan followed the four-eyed spirit beast along the winding stone path, through forests that opened into a picturesque valley. Four immense steles stood in the distance, each inscribed with mysterious, profound patterns that resembled Dao patterns but held something deeper.

This entire valley forms a complete array.

Wu Yuan observed. Despite being present only in consciousness, his Dao cultivation level allowed him to perceive the valley's special nature.

Each of the four steles, examined individually, contained flaws. But together, operating according to invisible rules, they created something flawless, like a perfect landscape painting one would hesitate to mar.

"You've noticed?" The four-eyed beast turned to Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan nodded.

"According to my recovered memories," the beast said softly, "when the Great Leader Hong created this place, he claimed that anyone who could comprehend the profundities of this valley could face the supreme ultimate without fear and remain immutable within samsara."

Supreme? Immutable within samsara?

Wu Yuan listened silently, not fully grasping the concepts.

"Enter the valley," the four-eyed beast urged, leading him forward.

The moment they crossed the threshold, Wu Yuan sensed that their presence didn't disrupt the valley's perfection. Instead, the invisible rules shifted subtly to encompass them both.

Encompassing all? Such a level...

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly, slowly beginning to understand. If one could fully comprehend this valley's array, they could create an array capable of withstanding all external attacks, absorbing unlimited impact. It was the perfect defense.

Encompassing everything, cycling infinitely.

Wu Yuan thought, admiring the abilities of this mysterious Hong, recognizing that his current self remained far from capable of such feats.

As they reached the valley's center, a figure in azure robes materialized from thin air. Though appearing ordinary at first glance, the figure possessed a quality that transcended spacetime itself. His mere presence suppressed all things and beings, filling Wu Yuan with subtle trepidation.

This?

At Wu Yuan’s current level, he immediately recognized this azure-robed figure's unique nature. Though seemingly ordinary, he surpassed all beings Wu Yuan had ever encountered.

"Lord Hong! The great Lord Hong," the four-eyed beast prostrated itself, its eyes filled with fanatical reverence.

Lord Hong? So that's Great Leader Hong?

Wu Yuan's heart stirred with anticipation.

Though sensing the figure's significance, Wu Yuan could tell this azure-robed presence wasn't truly corporeal.

"When you see me, a long time will have passed." The azure-robed figure regarded Wu Yuan with gentle eyes, like a venerable elder observing a promising successor. "That you have arrived here means your strength has reached the pinnacle of Sainthood, approaching the level of Grand Supreme. Therefore, you are qualified to receive this guide I have left behind."

Wu Yuan listened intently, understanding that Great Leader Hong left this recording here from countless eons past. Every Ancestral Pagoda Archon would watch it upon entering this space.

"All cultivators will generally undergo four stages: mortal, sempiternal, Dao creation, and samsara. These four stages essentially represent the operation of the Supreme Rules,” the azure-robed figure explained.

Supreme Rules? Wu Yuan's interest heightened. This was the second time he'd heard this term. Did it refer to the Primordial Rules?

"Supreme means the ultimate of all things, insurmountable," the figure continued. "It is the origin of everything. And what is the core principle of the Supreme Rules? It is opposition! It is balance! It is samsara!"

Opposition? Balance? Samsara?

Wu Yuan was taken aback. Though familiar with these concepts, no one had ever provided him with proper guidance on them.

"All things have their waxing and waning, the universe has its beginning and end, all things have their substance and void. The moment life is born, it begins its march toward death. All that exists in this vast expanse, from the moment of creation, is destined for destruction." The figure turned to Wu Yuan

Perhaps he had uttered these words countless eons ago. But in Wu Yuan's perception, the figure’s gaze seemed to penetrate everything, reaching into the depths of Wu Yuan’s spirit.

All creation is destined for destruction?

Wu Yuan contemplated, deeply moved.

"The mortal stage often begins with the physical body," the figure continued, "gradually studying and comprehending the operation of various energies, then grasping the Dao laws behind these energies.

"Comprehending the Dao laws to a higher level transforms one's body into energy, allowing one to believe they have mastered the ultimate principles of heaven and earth." A faint smile crossed the azure-robed figure's face. "This is the sempiternal lifeform.

"However, all manifested Dao laws are merely external expressions of the natural order. When all things cease to exist, these Dao laws will be re-established."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

"Be it Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, the Five Elements, or Life and Death—they are all external manifestations. Therefore, when a lifeform masters a certain Dao law to its limit, eventually they must embark on the path of Dao creation." the figure explained

"Creating one's own Dao means exploring the truth of everything—the source of the past, the end of spacetime, the other shore of the Great Dao. This is the self-created Dao, the path pioneered by oneself." A mysterious light flashed in the azure-robed figure's eyes. "At the ultimate end of the Dao, only the Saint is eternal. The word “Saint” encompasses everything.

"However, as Dao cultivation reaches higher levels, as strength increases and one becomes a Saint Emperor or Zenithel Saint, when the self-created Dao evolves to its limit, it seems one can break free from the shackles of samsara and the constraints of heaven and earth. But looking back, one finds that from beginning to end, we have never truly escaped."

"All that we are still exists under the Supreme Rules. The so-called self-created Dao, the so-called Dao pioneering...all can find their special imprints and traces within the supreme." The azure-robed figure spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of inexplicable desolation and melancholy.

The few sentences hit Wu Yuan with unprecedented force. The implications shook him to his core.

Who was this being? An existence transcending both the Azure Saint and Origin Saint, establishing the fundamental rules governing the Nine Megaverses Spacetime. Wu Yuan couldn't fathom what level such a being had reached.