Chapter 187: Heavenly Endowed Eldritch Tattoos, A Surge of Power (1)

"Eldritch universal cultivation?" Wu Yuan was perplexed. He had only ever heard of Dao universal cultivation.

"You must understand, the eldritch warrior cultivation system was created around imitating the cultivation of ancient gods and devils. These ancient beings have existed since the beginning of creation, before heaven and earth took shape," the black-armored giant explained. "The ultimate goal of an eldritch warrior is to rival these ancient beings. But fundamentally, heaven and earth is unwilling to allow the ancient gods and devils to exist!"

Unwilling? Wu Yuan didnt understand, so he simply made a note of it.

"Body cultivators, generally speaking, are superior in direct combat compared to most qi refiners of the same level," the black-armored giant declared. "However, as they progress in their cultivation, the path of a body cultivator becomes increasingly challenging, their numbers dwindle, and ultimately, qi refiners become the dominant force."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuan questioned, "Realm Master, doesn't this mean that qi refining is the correct path? The only ones capable of reaching the pinnacle of heaven and earth?"

"Haha. The black-armored giant suddenly laughed. "Wu Yuan, in your opinion, what kind of individual can be considered a peak powerhouse?"

Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment. After some contemplation, he suggested, "Amethyst Cradle? Shambhala?"

"Wrong!" The black-armored giant shook his head.

"The Amethyst Cradle and Shambhala cultivators may be considered formidable within the Summerpeak World, but the Summerpeak World is fundamentally just a worldlet of the vast Greenridge Macrocosm in the boundless heaven and earth." The black-armored giant chuckled.

"Even a single immortal continent contains countless thousands of such similar worldlets, not to mention the Greenridge Macrocosm itself, which is dozens of billions of times larger than the Summerpeak World! When the Hou Feng Tribe was at its zenith, it held dominion over many worldlets akin to Summerpeak."

Wu Yuan was left in a daze. The black-armored giant had mentioned that the Greenridge Macrocosm was more incredible than the Summerpeak World, but he never could have imagined the staggering difference.

The Middle Land, a vast expanse stretching for tens of thousands of li, was nothing more than a mere fraction of the Summerpeak World. And the Summerpeak World itself was unimaginably immense.

But the Greenridge Macrocosm? It was on a whole different level, billions of times the size of the Summerpeak World. No wonder it was called a macrocosm. How infinitely expansive must this macrocosm be? How many creatures inhabited its boundless domains? Countless beings thrived and multiplied, naturally giving birth to extraordinary powerhouses. This was a realm of immortals and devils, brimming with limitless might!

Just the thought of venturing into such a vast world ignited a fiery determination in Wu Yuan's heart.

"Do you find the Greenridge Macrocosm vast and boundless?" The black armored giant peered down at Wu Yuan. "But you must understand, even the Archeldritchs and Archimmortals who inhabit macrocosms have no right to speak of the Great Dao."

"They may possess longevity that rivals the heavens, achieving true immortality, but compared to the ancient gods and devils of old? They are nothing more than ants in the presence of dragons! Countless macrocosms and geniuses have been born within the river of worlds. But how many of them can reach the pinnacle? My eldritch lineage may be weak, but we too have formidable entities who have reached the zenith."

"Your talent is commendable, but only when evaluated within the confines of the Summerpeak World. When placed amidst the countless worlds akin to the sands along a riverbank, your brilliance dims. Therefore, do not concern yourself with the disputes of the Great Dao at the end of the path of cultivation. Do not overestimate yourself!"

"I have expectations of you, but I only hope that youll reach the Shambhala phase and restore the glory of the eldritch lineage in the Summerpeak World," the black-armored giant spoke lightly. "Without my guidance or the inheritance of others, it will be exceedingly difficult for you to reach the Amethyst Cradle phase."

"Once you reach the Shambhala phase and truly become the leader of the Summerpeak World, perhaps then you can bring prosperity to all beings in this world. We may discuss the future at that time. But in my estimation, your chances of surpassing Shambhala are exceedingly slim! Very slim indeed! You must understand that on average, it is a rare occurrence for an entity that surpasses the Shambhala phase to be born among countless worlds," the black-armored giant stated.

Wu Yuan listened, his mind beginning to comprehend the vastness of heaven and earth. Summerpeak World? Greenridge Macrocosm? Countless worlds within the river of worlds?

I have indeed been arrogant. Even with the presence of the mysterious black pagoda and my previous life experiences that propelled me to the pinnacle of martial arts in the Middle Land, my credentials are laughable in the presence of true immortals and devils. I must set aside my pride and humble myself.

The title of Grandmaster was only significant among martial artists. In the presence of genuine immortals and devils, Grandmasters were nothing more than babies, perhaps not even that.

In the Middle Land, other qi refiners are merely stumbling in the dark or learning from some immortal relics they unearthed. But those relics, at best, were left behind by the Golden Core Superiors or Amethyst Cradle Reverands.

With the great war sweeping across the Summerpeak world, the relics left behind in the ruins would not be overly powerful. Meanwhile, the realm master and the entire Fourth Eldritch Realm were undoubtedly created by a mighty eldritch beyond the Shambhala phase.

The inheritance here may not be as powerful as that of the top sects in the Greenridge Macrocosm, but it is unquestionably the strongest legacy available to me now, far surpassing any other relic.

Without the Fourth Eldritch Realm and its eldritch heritage, what could Wu Yuan possibly cultivate? He would be left with only the Five Elements Cycle'.

A beggar considering which business he should start to reach the highest levels of wealth? Ludicrous!

Wu Yuan shook his head, suppressing his numerous thoughts.

From the perspective of probability, Wu Yuan understood that reaching the pinnacle of the Summerpeak World was already a huge achievement.

All beginnings are fraught with difficulties. Lets take things one step at a time. Furthermore, the path of the eldritch warriors, though arduous, is not without hope. There have been those who have conquered its trials and reached the summit.

The future was still distant. For now, his focus was on the inheritance that awaited him. With its power, he would possess the strength necessary to confront the Great Jin Empire.

"Wu Yuan," the black-armored giants voice was tinged with amusement. "I understand your apprehensions. In truth, over the course of countless years, not only you, but the generations of ancestors in the eldritch lineage have discerned the flaws in the path of the eldritch warrior. Thus, the path of the eldritch mage was conceived."

"These eldritch mages specialize in qi refining," the giant continued. "And throughout generations, exceptional talents rose within the eldritch lineage, paving the way for the eldritch universal cultivation. The eldritch universal cultivation is the fusion of two paths, eldritch warrior and eldritch mage cultivated simultaneously."

Cultivated simultaneously? Wu Yuan echoed, his surprise evident. There was such a good thing?

"Indeed," the black-armored giant confirmed. "However, don't assume it to be a boon without consequences. Everyone's mental bandwidth is finite, and the limitations of treading two paths simultaneously will ultimately be revealed."

"The majority of eldritch cultivators eventually forsake one path and focus solely on the other," the giant cautioned. "And once a path is abandoned, what is lost may never be regained.

"Lost? Can't they compensate for each other?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.

"The crux of the issue lies in the soul!" The black-armored giant stated. "For a qi refiner, they discard their physical body, uniting their soul and qi. On the other hand, a body refiner must unify their soul and body."

"For ordinary martial artists, their souls lack the strength to tread even one path, let alone two. Their feeble souls would only make any path they choose extremely arduous! And should they give up halfway, all the effort poured into the abandoned path would be in vain," The black-armored giant continued.

"Furthermore, this is merely the first obstacle. There are numerous aspects like eldritch arts, techniques, treasures, and more that demand time for cultivation. Our lifespans are limited. Can one find enough time to cultivate both paths simultaneously?"

"Wu Yuan, your soul is not bad. In the short run, it might support you in cultivating two paths at once, but it would also hinder your progress. The mere splitting of your soul alone would inflict excruciating pain; it would be akin to torture."

"If you focus solely on the path of the eldritch warrior, I am confident that you could reach the Shambhala phase within 500 years. However, if you attempt to cultivate both, even a thousand years might prove insufficient."

"Furthermore, these initial difficulties are just the tip of the iceberg. The further you progress, the more challenges you will face. Cultivating both paths inherently engenders conflicts regarding the understanding of the Great Dao." The black armored giant shook his head. "Unless you stumble upon an extraordinary stroke of luck, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of both paths simultaneously."

Wu Yuan sank into deep thought. Much like studying literature or martial arts, a true martial artist was one who wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to the martial path; only then could they achieve greatness.

Dividing one's energy? If it was for relaxation, that might not be an issue. But if one wished to divert their focus to another full-time pursuit?

To strive for the peak in both endeavors simultaneously? Naturally, it would be ten times more difficult!

Whysee's Thoughts

Just wanted to share a bit of background on why I settled on the term 'eldritch':

So, the term comes from my interpretation of the word '', which directly translates to 'witch'. However, after diving into the author's descriptions and chatting with my boss, I decided to opt for 'eldritch' instead of inventing a new term. I liked how it carries the same eerie and unsettling vibe as 'witch'. While 'eldritch cultivators' aren't exactly brewing potions or sprouting tentacles, they do tend to take on an otherworldly appearance as they advance, cultivating various parts of their bodies. They might even grow to massive sizes, as mentioned in the chapter.

I know it might not seem like the most precise fit, but I believe the author chose '' for a reason, even if these cultivators aren't your stereotypical witches zipping around on broomsticks.

Now, onto a few other terms:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether you prefer more creative or direct translations of terms. I'll take it into account when deciding on names in the future!