Chapter 1358: The Samsara Tribulation, The Final Battle Begins (1)

Wu Yuan had helped his closest family, friends and mentors become Perennials, with more than half of his six disciples transcending successfully. At last, his heart found true peace, the obsessions that had driven him for so long mostly dissolving.

Within the essence space of the Eternal Realm, deep in the Long Shan Universe, the radiance of Wu Yuan's self-created Dao shone brilliantly. This light enveloped his Eternal Psyche, weaving together destructive darkness and vibrant white light pulsing with vitality. The two streams had nearly become one.

Among this dazzling display shimmered countless other wondrous auras, emitting unique fluctuations. Wu Yuan's body refiner self floated in lotus position, suspended in the void as he meditated in silent contemplation.

After investing nearly an entire samsara cycle of heaven and earth, I've finally comprehended all ten Great Daos completely.

As he sat motionless, myriad Dao fluctuations rippled out from his body. These powers merged with his self-created Dao's radiance, transforming him into what appeared to be an incarnation of the Primordium itself.

Yet compared to the true Primordial Rules or the Perfect Dao, it’s still not fully complete.

His long cultivation journey had taught him just how arduous this path truly was. Even with his extraordinary talent, Grand Supreme teachings to reference, and the ability to sense the Primordial Rules repeatedly through the Ancestral Pagoda, the road remained incredibly difficult.

Nevertheless, after more than two trillion years, Wu Yuan stood at the precipice of that final step.

With Great Destruction and Great Creation as my foundation, I need only to fully integrate insights from the ten Great Daos to achieve perfect completion.

He thought.

Once I attain perfect completion, it will be the Perfect Dao cultivated by Frostheaven Peak's creator.

This Perfect Dao encompassed all laws and paths, blending every law and rule into a flawless whole. Yet this final step remained maddeningly elusive. At this stage, even the ultimate techniques of the Grand Supremes offered little help.

According to Lord Hong, Frostheaven Peak's creator only succeeded due to extremely specific circumstances.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

The conditions I have may not measure up.

For a cultivator to take that ultimate step, their own abilities were crucial, but so was their external environment. Try as he might, Wu Yuan couldn't identify exactly what critical difference remained. He could only continue to meditate and attempt breakthroughs, though the path forward remained shrouded in mist.

I may be unable to break through just yet, but that's still far better than having no path at all.

Wu Yuan mused serenely. His years of cultivation had given him a deep understanding of why even Dao Zenithels struggled to progress further, with many unable to reach Full Dao Zenithel, let alone ascend to Grand Supreme.

The foundation of one's self-created Dao largely determines their ultimate potential.

Wu Yuan reflected.

For most Dao Zenithels, merely pioneering a top-tier self-created Dao marks their limit.

If the Primordial essence could be divided into ten aspects, a top-tier self-created Dao typically encompassed only two or three. To incorporate four or five was nearly unheard of. Even then, this merely established the groundwork, not guaranteed success. It resembled laying a solid foundation, but the house itself still needed to be constructed piece by painstaking piece through endless contemplation.

Of course, the foundation remained paramount.

Altering one's foundation is relatively simple before pioneering one’s self-created Dao, or in its early stages.

Wu Yuan thought.

But once one reaches the Dao Zenithel stage and refines their self-created Dao to completion?

Drastic changes at that stage were nearly impossible. Take a hundred-story building with a foundation suited only for that height. How could one double it to two hundred floors? The task would be far more daunting than building a new two-hundred-story tower from scratch.

That final step was incomparably difficult. Even someone as talented as Wu Yuan hadn’t managed to incorporate all Primordial aspects when first establishing his self-created Dao through his body refiner self.

If I'd wanted to include everything from the start, I shouldn't have rushed to create my self-created Dao.

Wu Yuan realized in hindsight.

At minimum, I shouldn't have been so eager to break through immediately afterward, much less become a Dao Zenithel with that foundation. Instead, I should have continued contemplating the ten Great Daos, fully integrating the ten Great Daos into my self-created Dao before proceeding with refinement.

It would have been far easier to grasp all the Great Daos early on and fuse them together. Wu Yuan likely could have broken through to Grand Supreme long ago in one decisive step.

Of course, fully comprehending all Great Daos as a sempiternal lifeform was incredibly challenging, far more difficult than becoming a Legend of the River. But the path would have smoothed over time, with the final breakthrough posing minimal resistance.

Wu Yuan's approach made things easier initially, but he now faced a tremendous hurdle at the end. He could hardly be faulted for this. He had no predecessors to guide him, and the foundation of his self-created Dao was already the strongest since the Primordium.

The self-created Dao foundations of powerhouses like the Heavenly Imperator or Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had been far weaker than his during their sempiternal lifeform stages.

Of course, the Heavenly Imperator had since evolved and deepened his foundation, though yet to fully break through. Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu had clearly made plans for her future path, creating the Samsara Sacrificial Annihilation technique based on the Six Paths of Samsara.

Heavenly Imperator?

Wu Yuan's eyes flashed coldly.

If we battled now, even if you unleashed the same power as in the Realm of Destruction, you'd have no chance of slaying me.

Though his Dao cultivation level appeared unchanged, Wu Yuan's strength had grown tremendously as he mastered one Great Dao after another.

Even without a Xuanhuang Dao Treasure, his ether body suppressed Imperial Majesty Dong Huo in the cosmic sea, striking fear into all factions. It had propelled Wu Yuan past Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu in the Eternal Rankings, placing him alongside the Heavenly Imperator as one of three universally acknowledged supreme powerhouses.

Suddenly, Wu Yuan's eyes flickered.

Hmm? Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang is calling for me?

Without hesitation, Wu Yuan projected a sliver of consciousness into the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, materializing directly within the Eldritch Progenitor Hall. With his current authority, he could freely access any location within.

In the next instant, Wu Yuan froze as if struck by lightning, his eyes widening at the gently smiling figure before him, radiating sacred light. He could scarcely believe his eyes.

"E-Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu." Wu Yuan's voice trembled, convinced he must be hallucinating. But his senses confirmed this was no illusion.

"Wu Yuan, it's been a long time," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu smiled warmly, addressing him by name rather than as Saint Yuan. Beside her stood Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang in black robes, equally moved by the reunion.

"Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu." Wu Yuan struggled to contain his excitement as he bowed respectfully. Though his power now far exceeded hers in her prime, she would always remain a revered elder in his heart.

"Eldritch Progenitor, you've... revived?" Wu Yuan asked.

"I've only regained a sliver of consciousness. The Samsara Sacrificial Annihilation took a great toll on me. It will likely take until the next samsara cycle for my true body to fully regenerate," she explained with a gentle smile.

"Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang has told me everything. You've done very well," she continued, eyes twinkling with pride. "Even better than I could have."

Wu Yuan's heart swelled with emotion. He nodded, deeply moved. Coming from any other Dao Zenithel, such words would mean little. From Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, they meant everything.

What had driven Wu Yuan to such desperation over trillions of years? Why had his mana body and ether body recklessly explored the cosmic sea, amassing vast treasures? Why had his body refiner self frequently guided countless True Saints and Dao Zenithels of the Eldritch Court?

His greatest obsession had always been Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu. Wu Yuan had dreaded her finding a decaying Eldritch Court upon her return. He had waited for this day, hoping to present her with an even mightier Eldritch Court.

Now, receiving her approval filled Wu Yuan with immeasurable joy.

"I hadn't intended to disturb you so soon," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu continued. "However, I've sensed unusual developments in the Immortal Court Universe through the River of Universes' essence."

"What?"

“Immortal Court Universe?” Wu Yuan and Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang exclaimed simultaneously.

"If what I’m sensing is correct, over seventy Dao Zenithels have gathered within the Immortal Court Universe," she stated gravely.

"Seventy Dao Zenithels?"

“So many?” They were utterly shocked.

There were barely over two hundred Dao Zenithels in total throughout the entire cosmic sea. Even major powers like the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court had only around thirty each.

Clearly, besides the Immortal Court's own Dao Zenithels, those from other factions had entered their universe. But why?

"Are they preparing for a decisive battle?" Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang's brow furrowed. "But why converge within the Immortal Court Universe?"

Wu Yuan was even more astonished, as both his true selves had remained within the River of Universes spacetime. His qi refiner self had been constantly running divinations, yet had detected nothing of this gathering.

"So many Dao Zenithels..." A cold glint flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes. "Could Dao Zenithel Wan Yu be obscuring fate?" Wu Yuan could think of no one else capable of such a feat.

"I cannot sense which specific Dao Zenithels are present," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said. "I can only perceive, through the connection between the universe's essence and the River of Universes’ essence, that numerous Dao Zenithels have descended.

"After all, though universes like the Eldritch Court and Immortal Court can permit foreign Dao Zenithels to descend, they still face rejection from the River of Universes."

Wu Yuan and Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang nodded in agreement.

Though the Eternal Realms of Wu Yuan's two true selves existed within the River of Universes, they hadn't truly merged with the universe's essence. Many of their abilities remained inferior to Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's within the River of Universes.

"The Immortal Court is planning something significant," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said quietly.

"Could they be preparing to destroy the Eternal Realms of my true selves?" Wu Yuan asked. "Or planning to attack Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's Eldritch Court Universe?

"If Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu's true body were here controlling the universe, they would have absolutely no chance against it.

"Under normal circumstances, they would have no opportunity against my two Eternal Realms either.

"But during the transition of the samsara cycles," Wu Yuan continued, "the River of Universes spacetime will be in chaos, and the Primordial Rules at their weakest. Dao Zenithels and even True Saints can easily enter the River of Universes. Though they'll face suppression, the impact won't be severe.

"This is the Immortal Court's only chance," Wu Yuan said.

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and Di Jiang nodded, finding his reasoning sound.

Beyond this, they couldn't imagine anything else within the River of Universes spacetime worth gathering over seventy Dao Zenithels for.

"Even if the Heavenly Imperator hasn't taken the final step, he must be close," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu said. "At minimum, he should be able to wield the Original Sword in the cosmic sea.

"Otherwise, he would have no hope of destroying your Eternal Realm," she looked at Wu Yuan. "He'd even struggle to breach the Eldritch Court Universe."

An Eternal Realm with a Dao Zenithel’s true self present versus one without represented two entirely different concepts.

Moreover, Wu Yuan's two Eternal Realms, especially his body refiner self's, were exceptionally vast.

As for Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, though her true body hadn't returned, her universe's sheer size made it difficult to breach.

"Wielding the Original Sword?" Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang felt the pressure mounting.

"With the Original Sword, the Heavenly Imperator's attacks might reach the Grand Supreme level," Wu Yuan said softly. "But as long as he hasn't broken through, who lives and dies remains uncertain. We'll only know once we engage in battle."

Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu and Di Jiang's eyes brightened slightly, sensing Wu Yuan's confidence.

"Good. Then I can rest easy," Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu smiled. "It's unfortunate that I can only watch you fight this battle."

"Leave it to us," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said.

"Elder Brother Di Jiang, please gather our Eldritch Court Dao Zenithels," Wu Yuan said solemnly. "Give me the coordinates, and I'll go with my qi refiner self to escort them back to the Eldritch Court Universe as quickly as possible."

"Additionally, I will gather the Blood Dream Alliance's Dao Zenithels at top speed, bringing the Blood Emperor, the Dream Emperor, and the others here," Wu Yuan said.

In such a decisive battle, every additional measure of strength increased their chances of victory, especially considering the Blood Dream Alliance's formidable overall power.

"You should retrieve Great Emperor Yan Tuo first," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang suddenly smiled.

"Yan Tuo?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

"He has agreed to stand with us," Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang said. "He, along with numerous Dao Zenithels under his command, will all join the battle."

"Excellent," Wu Yuan said, delighted.

Though he didn't know what method Eldritch Progenitor Di Jiang had used to convince Great Emperor Yan Tuo to join the fight, Wu Yuan trusted that Di Jiang wouldn't speak without reason.

Once the Eldritch Court, Blood Dream Alliance, and Ancient Megaverse joined forces, they would command over fifty Dao Zenithels. Though still fewer than the Immortal Court's numbers, the top-tier combatants on the Eldritch Court's side were truly formidable.

Not to mention, Wu Yuan's two true selves, mana body, and ether body combined would give the Immortal Court quite a surprise.