Chapter 1356: Confronting The Primordium, Half-Real Spacetime (2)

Wu Yuan calmly surveyed the gathering, though inwardly he sighed. Throughout these past two trillion years, beyond secluded cultivation, plans to deal with the Immortal Court, and leadership of the Eldritch Court, his qi refiner self had devoted immense effort to helping these friends and family ascend to eternity.

Yet he had to acknowledge a fundamental truth: differences existed between individuals. True monstrous prodigies couldn't be manufactured simply by providing abundant resources.

Take Overlord Qian Yang, Overlord Fu Ben, and the other four. Though Wu Yuan hadn't passed his Great Dao imprint to them, they had all created eternal ultimate techniques under his guidance. Overlord Fu Ben had even crafted three sets of eternal ultimate techniques. In terms of Dao cultivation alone, he rivaled the limit of the Perennial level.

Meanwhile, many of Wu Yuan's friends and family had received more guidance and better resources, yet most had plateaued at third-stage Overlord, creating only limitbreak Overlord ultimate techniques. Only Overlords Lan Yan, Zhuo Haiyue, and Dong Yang had managed to create eternal ultimate techniques.

Lan Yan became an Overlord through her own power.

Wu Yuan reflected.

Haiyue was chosen by Saint Lei Xing while still mortal and fought her way upward. Her talent might not seem exceptional, but her willpower and temperament are truly terrifying.

Master Dong Yang possesses considerable talent and, more importantly, the courage to venture into different universes. His trials in the Long Shan Universe transformed him profoundly.

In Wu Yuan's estimation, even without his assistance, these three had the potential to reach the Overlord level. With his full support, they had flourished extraordinarily, each creating eternal ultimate techniques.

His other close friends and teachers, by comparison, remained considerably weaker.

On the path of cultivation, the further one progresses, the more it ultimately comes down to temperament and willpower.

Wu Yuan thought with an inward sigh.

Whether one harbors grand aspirations or selfish desires, whether one aids all living beings, follows the middle path, or indulges in bloodshed—as long as one's thoughts and actions align, with an unyielding Dao Heart that seeks the Dao, there remains hope of reaching the pinnacle.

The Primordium remained utterly impartial. No absolutely correct path or Dao Heart existed. Concepts of good and evil were merely subjective interpretations of living beings. What mattered was staying true to one's heart.

"When I speak of the cycle nearing its end, that's relative to the entire samsara cycle," Wu Yuan continued. "According to my calculations, at least a billion years remain."

With Wu Yuan's current abilities, divining the specific timing of the samsara cycle’s end was straightforward. Hearing this, everyone secretly released the breaths they’d been holding.

Over a billion years? Compared to trillions of years, it seemed brief. But for ordinary beings of the river of time, it was not insignificant.

"However, we cannot wait until the final moment of the cycle's end. We must leave a buffer for safety," Wu Yuan cautioned. "Three hundred million years from now will be our final deadline.

"During these coming three hundred million years, I will exert my full effort to guide you all.

"After that time, those who have created eternal ultimate techniques may attempt to step into eternity one by one. I will do everything in my power to protect you and ensure your success.

"And once someone succeeds, the rest may directly become Heaven's Stowaways," Wu Yuan concluded.

Three hundred million years with personal guidance from Dao Zenithel Ming Jian? All the Overlords nodded slightly.

...

Time flowed on. In the years that followed, signs that this samsara cycle approached its end became increasingly apparent.

Throughout the universe, massive spacetime rifts appeared with growing frequency, and even the outer reaches of the universe began to dissipate. Every indication confirmed that this samsara cycle of heaven and earth truly neared its conclusion.

Wu Yuan's two true selves continued their secluded cultivation, while his qi refiner self split off numerous strands of consciousness, constantly guiding his many friends and family in their cultivation practices.

I may not harbor such grand aspirations.

He reflected.

But for those I love, those I must protect, and the responsibilities I bear, I will exert every effort.

This had become a kind of obsession for Wu Yuan.

He dedicated his full power, hoping that in this samsara cycle, another Legend of the River might emerge within the Ling Jiang Universe. Only a Legend of the River possessed absolute certainty of achieving eternity. Those who merely created eternal ultimate techniques faced extremely slim chances of success.

Wu Yuan remembered Overlord Bei Zhen, who had attempted to step into eternity a trillion years ago, only to fail and perish on that path. Now, it was time for Wu Yuan's closest friends and family to face this cruel path to eternity.

Yet cultivating a Legend of the River proved ultimately too difficult. In the final hundreds of millions of years, despite Wu Yuan giving his all, Overlord Fu Ben only managed to create one additional eternal ultimate technique. Overlord Qian Yang crafted his third, and Overlord Haiyue her second, but none could pioneer their self-created Dao.

Without experiencing the Primordium's baptism, without truly cultivating an Eternal Psyche, without feeling the transformation into an eternal lifeform, attempting to pioneer one's self-created Dao remained far too challenging. Since the Primordium's beginning, how many Legends of the River had there truly been?

We must begin.

Wu Yuan realized, knowing he could delay no longer. Further hesitation risked the collapse of the entire Ling Jiang Universe, even the entire Nine Megaverses Spacetime.

Finally, in the void outside the Ming Jian Eternal Realm, he gathered his closest friends and family, along with those third-stage Overlords under his command who had created limitbreak Overlord ultimate techniques. These Overlords understood that their final chance to achieve eternity had arrived.

"Who is willing to go first?" Wu Yuan's qi refiner self asked, his gaze settling upon his six disciples.

The six disciples exchanged glances. Being first meant there was no path of retreat; failure would mean certain death. Those who went later might still become Heaven's Stowaways if someone before them succeeded, gaining eternal life even if limited in future achievements.

"Master, I wish to go," a deep voice broke the silence. It was Overlord Qian Yang.

All eyes turned to him.

"Qian Yang, are you certain?" Wu Yuan asked softly.

"Though I am not Master's top disciple, I’m the first to be taken under your wing among us six brothers, considered their senior brother," the bald Overlord Qian Yang replied with a calm smile. "Someone must go first.

"Besides," he continued, "after cultivating for so many eons, I have certain obsessions. Even if you allowed Junior Brother Fu Ben to go first and he succeeded, I would probably still choose to attempt stepping into eternity myself."

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Wu Yuan nodded slightly. He knew the temperaments of his six disciples well. In terms of raw talent, Fu Ben stood highest. But in decisiveness and temperament, Qian Yang surpassed him, possessing a wild streak in his nature.

"Dao Zenithel, I'll attempt it together with Overlord Qian Yang," a cool voice announced.

Everyone turned to Overlord Haiyue.

"Haiyue?" Wu Yuan glanced at her questioningly.

"After cultivating for so long, I cannot rest content without trying," Zhuo Haiyue smiled at Wu Yuan.

Her good friend had become a top figure of the cosmic sea.

"I don't want to leave myself an escape route," she said softly. "Having a way out would only disturb my inner self. Better to be among the first; succeed and attain eternity, fail and perish."

Some words remained unspoken, but the determination in her eyes was undeniable.

"Very well," Wu Yuan nodded.

...

Soon after, two vast and boundless auras surged skyward, instantly shaking the entire Ling Jiang Universe. Countless beings instantly recognized that, long after Overlord Bei Zhen's attempt, Overlord powerhouses were finally attempting to step into eternity again.

Overlord Qian Yang and Zhuo Haiyue unleashed their eternal ultimate techniques, radiant light stretching for millions of li. Their bodies towered over billions of li, containing traces of eternal Dao resonance.

Rumble~

An immense pressure descended, emanating from the Primordial fluctuations—a test of worthiness. When Wu Yuan's two true selves achieved eternity, they had shattered the Primordial Rules' suppression with a single thought. But for Qian Yang and Haiyue, this represented a great tribulation requiring their utmost effort.

This was a battle between Daos. They had to use their eternal ultimate techniques to protect themselves while taking on the Primordium's test.

Streaks of divine light appeared, carrying lethal power.

Suddenly, the situation shifted dramatically.

Overlord Qian Yang's vital aura grew increasingly dense, his eternal Dao resonance becoming more tangible. Finally, he seemed to leap beyond the universe itself, escaping the constraints of the river of space and time into another spacetime dimension.

A vast fluctuation originating from the Primordium immediately suppressed the universe's essence fluctuations.

He had succeeded! All the Overlords present brightened with joy.

"Seize this moment," Wu Yuan's voice boomed. "Begin transcension to Perennial through the Heaven's Stowaway path."

Immediately, his close friends like Fang Xia, Wu Yijun, Overlord Bei You, and others grasped this rare opportunity, embarking on the path of a Heaven's Stowaway. Dozens of individuals simultaneously became Perennial Eternals—a spectacle that would shock the entire River of Universes, inspiring awe and envy in countless lives.

Wu Yuan's gaze swept over his five remaining disciples. "If you wish to strive for greater heights, then step into eternity yourselves. If you prefer to become Heaven's Stowaways, that choice is yours. Make your decision."

With Overlord Qian Yang's success, Wu Yuan wouldn't force his other disciples to make the same choice.

The five disciples exchanged glances. In the end, all except Overlord Fu Ben chose to become Heaven's Stowaways. Stepping into eternity remained an incredibly difficult path, and many harbored understandable reservations.

Wu Yuan transported Overlord Fu Ben to another galactic cluster to avoid being influenced by the others. As soon as Fu Ben arrived, after a brief adjustment, he began his attempt without hesitation.

"Lan Yan, Master," Wu Yuan addressed Overlord Lan Yan and Overlord Dong Yang. "I naturally hope you'll choose to become Heaven's Stowaways. It's the absolutely safe path.

"But on the path of cultivation, you must ultimately make your own choices."

Wu Yuan hoped all his loved ones could attain eternal life, but refused to deprive them of their right to choose their own destiny.

"Disciple, I'm content having come this far," Overlord Dong Yang smiled. "Becoming a Perennial is enough for me."

Overlord Dong Yang chose to become a Heaven's Stowaway.

"Dao Zenithel, I wish to try," Overlord Lan Yan said in a low, determined voice.

"Very well," Wu Yuan nodded, having long recognized Lan Yan's obsession with seeking the Dao.

Overlord Dong Yang's talent wasn't necessarily weaker, nor was his determination to seek the Dao less sincere. He simply had more concerns, unable to cast everything aside for the sake of attaining the Dao. The two chose different paths, and naturally their results would differ.

Time passed. Those who became Heaven's Stowaways didn't need to undergo the Primordium's baptism, so the process concluded quickly. Soon, they all succeeded, advancing in the order of life.

Wu Yuan's gaze swept over his sister, mother, Master Kua Chi, Grandmaster Bei You and the others, a smile of satisfaction warming his face.

All those years of effort—weren't they for precisely this moment?

Wu Yuan's expression subtly shifted as he observed Zhuo Haiyue's vital aura rapidly diminishing beneath the crushing pressure of the Primordial Rules.