Chapter 1352: The Eldritch Court's Response (2)

The temple plunged into silence as the Dao Zenithels contemplated the troubling question.

Indeed! Though Saint Yuan possessed tremendous power and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu would eventually revive, the Heavenly Imperator's recent display of strength was far more terrifying than anyone had anticipated.

Years earlier in the Realm of Destruction, the Heavenly Imperator had merely defeated Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and Great Emperor Yan Tuo. Now, he wielded the Original Sword with devastating effect, nearly killing Saint Yuan. This clear progression indicated that the Heavenly Imperator's power was still growing, suggesting he might soon master the Original Sword completely.

If that happened, even Dao Zenithels sheltered within their Eternal Realms might find themselves vulnerable. What defense could possibly hold up against such might?

"Your concern is valid," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said, his voice solemn. "Though he is our enemy, we must acknowledge the Heavenly Imperator's formidable strength. Even Saint Yuan can only confidently hold him at bay in the cosmic sea, with little chance of actual victory.

"His power will only increase with time," Di Jiang continued. "Therefore, I strongly advise all Dao Zenithels to remain within their Eternal Realms whenever possible in the coming years. Venture out only when absolutely necessary. Even True Saints should limit their excursions, at least until Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu revives."

The assembled Dao Zenithels nodded. Though the Heavenly Imperator's power was immense, invading their Eternal Realms would still prove extremely difficult for him.

Wu Yuan listened without speaking, his thoughts turning inward.

In the past, the Heavenly Imperator and Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had maintained a delicate balance of power. To prevent other factions in the cosmic sea from exploiting any weakness, both the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court had exercised remarkable restraint, rarely engaging in all-out conflicts between their Dao Zenithels. Unless competing for rare treasures or unique opportunities, even direct confrontations between True Saints were uncommon.

But now that balance had shattered, making the future completely unpredictable.

"There's one more matter," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said, his voice measured. "Saint Yuan, please."

All eyes turned to Wu Yuan once more.

"You are likely wondering why I suddenly ventured deep into the Realm of Destruction, then fought Imperial Majesty Nan Guang and claimed the Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, Saber of Oblivion," Wu Yuan began calmly. "I did so because I received guidance from the Ancestral Pagoda." He paused. "I am an Ancestral Pagoda Archon."

The Three Supreme Divine Objects were legendary among the Dao Zenithels, widely regarded as invincible. The Heavenly Imperator already ranked first on the Eternal Rankings, and now he had begun truly wielding the Original Sword. Such power naturally inspired fear.

Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang's explanations alone couldn't dispel the Dao Zenithels' worries; something substantial was needed to restore confidence.

"Ancestral Pagoda Archon?"

"Guidance from the Ancestral Pagoda? Xuanhuang Dao Treasure?" Dao Zenithel Fu You, Eldritch Progenitor Zhu Rong and Eldritch Progenitor Xuan Ming exclaimed in shock, while others appeared confused.

Some Dao Zenithels knew about the Archons of the Three Supreme Divine Objects, but many remained unaware of their significance.

As Wu Yuan explained the concept of the Archons to the assembled Dao Zenithels, understanding gradually dawned across their faces.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"The reason I've grown so rapidly, becoming comparable to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu in just a few billion years, is because I am an Ancestral Pagoda Archon. In the future, I may control the Ancestral Pagoda." Wu Yuan explained.

"Wield the Ancestral Pagoda?"

"So becoming an Archon grants hope of wielding a Supreme Divine Object. Does this mean the Heavenly Imperator is an Original Sword Archon? No wonder he remained in the Realm of Destruction for so long." Most of the relatively weaker Dao Zenithels realized.

For Full Dao Zenithel powerhouses, much of this information wasn't exactly secret, but it wasn't public either.

Many turned their thoughts to Yonder Cliff, where another Supreme Divine Object resided—the Heavenly Cauldron.

"The process of wielding the Ancestral Pagoda remains incredibly difficult," Wu Yuan admitted. "I dare not claim I'll control in less time than the Heavenly Imperator takes to control the Original Sword. But I will certainly dedicate every effort toward that goal."

"How does one become an Archon?"

"What are the conditions for controlling a Supreme Divine Object as an Archon?" Some Dao Zenithels asked, unable to contain their curiosity. As beings at the pinnacle of existence, all these Dao Zenithels hungered for greater power.

"Becoming an Archon of the Three Supreme Divine Objects is exceedingly difficult," Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. "There exists only the faintest hope for a Dao Zenithel to succeed, whether in the Realm of Destruction or at Yonder Cliff."

Wu Yuan knew of the method to become an Original Sword Archon, but remained bound by his agreement with the Blood Emperor and Dream Emperor. Moreover, now that the Heavenly Imperator had partially succeeded, the Realm of Destruction had become even more dangerous. Who could say if the old methods would still work?

"Enough!" Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang's voice cut through the murmurs. "Now that you know more about Archons, you should understand the immense difficulty. Wu Yuan's position as an Ancestral Pagoda Archon came through countless trials and fortunate encounters.

"If you wish to pursue such power, you may venture to Yonder Cliff in the future," he continued. "But now? Our Eldritch Court is facing a calamity, confronting the Immortal Court and the Heavenly Imperator. True, we cannot guarantee victory, but throughout our long ascent to prominence, when have we not faced challenges?"

His voice deepened with conviction. "Now more than ever, we need your united resolve.

"The contents of this meeting must never leave this temple," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang commanded. "Your true selves are to wait in your respective Eternal Realms. Should the Immortal Court initiate war, I will alert you immediately."

"Understood!" the Dao Zenithels responded in unison.

Though peril loomed, the Eldritch Court had not yet reached the point of collapse.

...

One by one, the myriad Dao Zenithels departed, leaving only Wu Yuan and Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang in the temple.

"Saint Yuan, I apologize for forcing you to reveal your identity as an Ancestral Pagoda Archon," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang sighed softly.

"Elder Brother Di Jiang, such apologies are unnecessary now," Wu Yuan replied in a low voice. "The identity of Ancestral Pagoda Archon cannot be stolen from me. Besides, if we don't shoulder the responsibility in times like this, who will?"

Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang nodded, pleased by Wu Yuan's response. It reassured him that Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's sacrifice had not been in vain.

"It's been only three days," Di Jiang noted. "According to Hou Tu, even if her attack doesn’t kill the Heavenly Imperator, it should trap him for over a thousand years. Based on your mana body's observations, Hou Tu's estimate seems accurate.”

"Indeed. Even a few decades would suffice for me to escape," Wu Yuan agreed. "My qi refiner self waits just outside the Realm of Destruction. Once my body refiner self emerges, I can swiftly return to the River of Universes."

Once they left the Realm of Destruction, both Wu Yuan's qi refiner self and mana body could easily traverse spacetime and depart.

"Good," Di Jiang nodded. "Beyond this, we must prepare for war. The battles you fought in the Chaos Void as a True Saint were mere skirmishes compared to what may come. If the Immortal Court moves, it will be decisive."

Wu Yuan nodded. Though he had never experienced a true immortal-eldritch war, past intelligence reports had given him some understanding.

Immortal-eldritch wars generally fell into two categories.

The first involved contests over important treasure grounds, like the Chaos Voids or Yonder Cliff. The victorious side would occupy more territory, securing a steady flow of precious resources. But these conflicts rarely shifted the overall balance of power; victory in a single battle could not deal a fatal blow to either side.

The second type was all-out war—Dao Zenithels from both factions gathering for a decisive clash, resulting in devastating casualties. Initiating such a confrontation was simple: directly attacking the enemy's Saint Realms and Eternal Realms.

Since the Primordium, only two such major wars had erupted between the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court.

"The Saint Realm is the lifeblood of a True Saint. If destroyed, the True Saint can never break through," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang explained gravely. "When a True Saint's true self is within their Saint Realm, bolstered by its essence, even a Standard Dao Zenithel would struggle to breach it. But a Full Dao Zenithel possesses sufficient strength to overcome their defenses."

Wu Yuan nodded. With sufficient determination, a Full Dao Zenithel could destroy a True Saint's foundation, though it would require considerable time. When multiple Dao Zenithels launched a joint assault on a Saint Realm, the task became far easier.

Wu Yuan had never worried about this before because his Saint Realms existed safely within universes.

"Once Saint Realms are destroyed on a large scale, our Eldritch Court will be unable to produce more Dao Zenithels," Di Jiang continued solemnly. "This severs our roots and future. If the Immortal Court takes such actions, we will have no choice but to meet them in battle."

Wu Yuan's heart sank. In the past two great wars, countless Saint Realms on both sides had been utterly destroyed.

Now, the Heavenly Imperator was in his prime while the Eldritch Court had lost Hou Tu. Once he recovered, if it came to all-out slaughter, victory was far from certain.

"What concerns me most are the Dao Zenithels' Eternal Realms," Di Jiang said gravely.

Wu Yuan tensed.

"Currently, Dao Zenithels are basically invincible within their Eternal Realms, beyond even the Heavenly Imperator's reach," Di Jiang sighed. "But if he manages to bring the Original Sword out of the Realm of Destruction...will the Eternal Realms truly remain safe?"

Wu Yuan fell silent. The power a Dao Zenithel could unleash within their Eternal Realm was comparable to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and his current self. But the Heavenly Imperator, wielding the Original Sword, might indeed shatter a Dao Zenithel's Eternal Realm given enough time.

"Eternal Realms cannot be moved quickly; there's nowhere to hide," Di Jiang continued, shaking his head. "If even one Eternal Realm falls, many of our Dao Zenithels may lose their resolve to fight. Our Eldritch Court would face total annihilation."

A faction's foundation lay in the power of its top combatants. As long as the Dao Zenithels stood united, the faction would endure. But if some perished while others surrendered or fled, collapse would soon follow.

The Eldritch Court... annihilated?

Wu Yuan's heart trembled at the thought.

After a long silence, he spoke. "Elder Brother Di Jiang, I understand your meaning." His voice grew heavy with resolve. "If the great war truly comes, no matter how strong the Heavenly Imperator may be, I will sacrifice my life if necessary to prevent the Eldritch Court's destruction.

"The Eldritch Court has come this far through Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's dedication, and through the blood and toil of countless human predecessors."

Wu Yuan's avatar soon dissipated.

Di Jiang sighed inwardly. He hadn't wanted to burden Wu Yuan with such immense responsibility, yet he saw no alternative.

I have no choice.

He murmured to himself.

Sacrifice his life? If that day comes, I too will sacrifice mine.

...

Days passed into years. Soon, two years elapsed in the blink of an eye.

Within the Realm of Destruction, Wu Yuan's body refiner self travelled at high speed. Suddenly, his eyes brightened. In the distance, through wisps of black mist, he spotted a blood-red lotus platform hovering in the void—the Samsara Platform.

Come!

Wu Yuan's body refiner self, largely recovered from his injuries, extended his hand and effortlessly retrieved the blood-red lotus platform.

The Samsara Platform.

He sensed its familiar aura, a tinge of sorrow touching his heart.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, I will not disappoint you.

In the past, Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had shielded him from wind and rain, clearing away countless obstacles and threats. Thanks to that, he had been able to devote himself entirely to cultivation without worry. But now, the path ahead loomed dark and uncertain, with no protector standing watch.

I am now the Eldritch Court's strongest combatant.

The Heavenly Imperator?

His body refiner self glanced back at the endless black mist, then continued on its way.

...

Though Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang's warnings to the Dao Zenithels had not spread throughout the cosmic sea, the Eldritch Court's actions spoke volumes. Over the years, their True Saints and Dao Zenithels were gradually ordered to return to their Saint Realms and Eternal Realms. Even treasure grounds and strongholds protected by vast arrays were simply abandoned.

Such large-scale movements could not be hidden. Throughout the cosmic sea, various major factions sensed the approaching storm. An unprecedented war between the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court seemed imminent.

Yet faced with the Eldritch Court's comprehensive withdrawal, the Immortal Court remained eerily silent, taking no action.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred years passed.

In the Realm of Destruction, within the Sea of Thunder, in the dim void

The Heavenly Imperator, who had been enveloped in endless light for over a century, slowly opened his eyes.

Hou Tu.

He murmured.

It appears I must thank you.