Chapter 509: Heaven Tier, Meeting Master (1)

A strand of Wu Yuan's consciousness entered the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, rapidly absorbing the intel about the Heaven and Earth Tournament.

It’s a real-world battle consisting of two rounds.

For the first half a month, over a hundred thousand ordinary members compete, with the top hundred ordinary disciples advancing from the first round.

Then, they face off with the existing heaven-tier and earth-tier members in the second round.

Wu Yuan muttered to himself.

In other words, Wu Yuan could skip the first round and jump straight into the second round in half a month.

Wu Yuan recalled the strand of consciousness.

Starsunder Saber Codex, fourth step.

Wu Yuan continued to study the codex. Blade rays formed from countless beams of light transformed.

Advancing from the ninth-level Domain stage to the first-level True Intent stage posed an immense bottleneck, requiring luck, opportunities, sudden epiphanies and other factors for a breakthrough—it was a qualitative leap!

But progressing from the first-level True Intent stage to the third-level True Intent stage was a quantitative accumulation of insights. Theoretically, with daily effort, even the least talented individual could eventually reach the third-level True Intent stage.

Wu Yuan had gained tremendous insights from the Dao Temple. With guidance from Master Nan Yin and Senior Brother Jiang Huan, along with the mental imprint from the Celestial Body Law Codex, Wu Yuan's progress over the months was astounding.

Though still a long way before reaching the second-level True Intent stage, his comprehension had deepened significantly compared to when he first broke through.

Wu Yuan's evolving spirit and mentality, combined with the exceptional clarity of Dao perception brought about by his Celestial Divine Body, allowed him to display incredible power.

...

Half a month later.

“We wish Master the best of luck in becoming the heaven-tier member.” Cen Jiang, along with twelve Void Refiner servants, stood respectfully beside the teleportation array, speaking in unison.

They had high hopes for Wu Yuan.

They were once immortal cultivators from the Voltari Temple's territories, but to survive, they chose to become servants. It could be said that their Dao Hearts had been tarnished, and their chances of ascending to Archimmortality in this life were nearly zero.

However, it also showed their thirst for life! And now, their destiny was bound with Wu Yuan's. The stronger Wu Yuan became, the better their futures would be.

"Haha. Everyone, await the good news." Wu Yuan stepped into the teleportation array. A beam of light shot into the sky, and he disappeared instantly.

"Earth Immortal, can Master do it?" a Void Refiner servant couldn't help asking.

"He can!" Cen Jiang replied softly, "Master is the most monstrous prodigy I've seen in the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field in over a thousand years."

...

The Origin Eldritch Continent spanned tens of millions of li, of which many regions were sparsely inhabited.

But the core Eldritch Battle Platform was already packed with people. Over eighty thousand members of the Origin Eldritch Field had gathered here, most of whom had come to witness the event.

The Heaven and Earth Tournament was a grand event for each Origin Eldritch Field.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan emerged from the teleportation array, flying over at high speed.

"Wu Yuan!"

"Is that Wu Yuan? He's Wu Yuan?"

"I've heard of him but never seen him. Someone mentioned he was a genius from the spacetime territories of the Eternal Sun Immortal Nation, invited to join our eldritch world."

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"He's strong. I heard he's still very young." Almost in unison, tens of thousands of members of the eldritch field turned their gaze towards Wu Yuan.

Some were in awe, others curious, some doubtful; some expressionless, some smiling.

But very few showed jealousy. This was the lineage of the eldritch; they revered the strong. After a thousand grueling battles, Wu Yuan’s formidable combat prowess had conquered the hearts of most Origin Eldritch Field members.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan landed lightly before the Eldritch Battle Platform.

Here, over a hundred figures had gathered. Some were former heaven-tier and earth-tier members, while others were ordinary disciples who had fought their way into the second round. Among them were several peerless geniuses who had once crossed swords with Wu Yuan, like Nong Bai.

"Wu Yuan."

"Wu Yuan has arrived." The hundred-odd figures turned their heads to look, their eyes filled with apprehension and curiosity, and in some, a burning desire to fight.

Wu Yuan was already acknowledged as someone in the top ten, if not top five, of strength.

As Wu Yuan's gaze swept across the crowd, he spotted an old acquaintance. His lips curled into a grin. Striding forward, he greeted, "Xiang Lin, my brother, we meet again."

"Wu... Wu Yuan?" Xiang Lin wasn't particularly tall and managed a forced smile.

"You defeated me before and told me to remember you," Wu Yuan said, his expression incredibly sincere. "Of course I’ll remember you. Honestly, I have to thank you for stimulating me, or I wouldn't have broken through."

"This time, let's battle once more," Wu Yuan's eyes seemed to blaze with battle intent.

Xiang Lin's face was bitter. Fight Wu Yuan? He had no confidence at all.

But previously, when Wu Yuan was accepting one thousand battles, he was the first to defeat him and had told Wu Yuan to 'remember me' before leaving.

It seemed Wu Yuan had taken that to heart.

...

Shortly after the last person arrived, a streak of light flashed through the air and appeared above the Eldritch Battle Platform.

It was a muscular man in silver armor, with short hair and a scarred face, exuding an incredibly fierce aura. His presence was formidable.

"Astral Lord."

"Astral Lord." In an instant, the crowd of tens of thousands around the Eldritch Battle Platform all respectfully saluted.

Astral Monarch Hou Qu managed the five Origin Eldritch Fields, but the specific affairs of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field were managed by this Astral Lord.

Perhaps in the future, many Archeldritch and Archimmortals might emerge among these tens of thousands of members from the Origin Eldritch Field. But for now, their status couldn't compare to the Astral Lord.

Geniuses were still just geniuses.

"Rise," the silver-armored giant's voice boomed, resonating through the heavens and earth. His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering on Wu Yuan.

As the overseer of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field, he didn't know Wu Yuan's exact background, but he knew Wu Yuan was under Second-Tier Protection, an extraordinarily rare privilege.

Ordinarily, the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field cycled through a batch of geniuses every hundred years, and it was rare to see someone receive Second-Tier Protection once in over ten thousand years.

"The second round of the Heaven and Earth Tournament, a total of 143 contestants," the silver-armored giant announced, his voice ringing in everyone's ears.

"The rules remain simple. Round-robin battles. Each contestant must face every other participant once. Victory earns you one point, defeat earns you none. Ultimately, the contestant with the highest points becomes the heaven-tier member."

"Those ranked 2nd to 101st become earth-tier members."

"In case of tied points, the ranking will be determined by a direct battle," the silver-armored giant's voice was cold.

"Remember, cultivation resources are limited. Only by becoming an earth-tier member or even a heaven-tier member can you obtain the best root establishment treasures from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.”

“Otherwise, when you move on to the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field, you will have to undertake risky missions to compensate for your immortal root flaws."

"Ten battles will be held a day. The second round will conclude in fifteen days," the silver-armored giant said coldly, "All combat spaces of the Eldritch Battle Platform will be opened. Refer to the matchup roster to confirm your opponent."

"Let the battles begin!"

Swish~

A massive light screen appeared, displaying a dense list of names and contestant matchups. Each contestant could find their opponent.

My opponent for the first battle.

Wu Yuan quickly found his name.

It's Mu Xia?

Mu Xia was the current heaven-tier member. Though he had risen to this tier due to his position in the ranking, it clearly indicated that among the dozens of prior earth-tier members, he was likely the strongest.

"Wu Yuan." Clad in a white robe, Mu Xia also smiled as he looked over: "I've been looking forward to this battle."

"So have I." Wu Yuan smiled in return.

He sensed no malice from Mu Xia.

Before long, apart from the participant who had a bye, the other 142 participants entered their respective battle spaces, including Wu Yuan and Mu Xia.

Nearly a hundred thousand Origin Eldritch Field members had chosen the battle spaces they wished to watch. The most anticipated battle was naturally the duel between Wu Yuan and Mu Xia.

One was the current heaven-tier member. The other, the latest monstrous prodigy to emerge from the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.

The battles swiftly began.

...

Whoosh!

An overwhelming blue torrent, seemingly as vast as an ocean, completely engulfed the nearly two-thousand-li battle space.

Flying swords, like terrifying aquatic dragons, roared ferociously. Their whiskers fluttered, attacking Wu Yuan from all directions.

Such an earth-shattering display of power was enough to make any ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator quiver in fear.

"Haha, bring it on!" Wu Yuan instantly transformed into a hundred-zhang giant. Four arms extended, and four dazzling blade rays burst forth.

A hazy layer of starlight diffused.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Water dragons clashed, blade rays howled, and both sides erupted in a terrifying confrontation.

One attacked!

One defended!

"Mu Xia, your sword array cannot make me budge." Wu Yuan stood in the air, immovable as a mountain, his voice booming through heaven and earth. "If your attacks cannot shake me, you are doomed to lose!"

"Exterminate!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The blade rays around Wu Yuan instantly transformed, growing overwhelmingly violent in a split second.

Water dragons were shredded and countless flying swords scattered wildly. Wu Yuan's speed grew faster as his movements turned phantom-like.

With a slight beat of his wings, he charged towards Mu Xia.

Swoosh!

Mu Xia's form melded into the ocean, merging with the water again and again, dodging Wu Yuan's ambush. Water was formless, unpredictable.

This battle lasted for over an hour, the longest among the seventy-two matches.

Their Dao comprehension levels were similar, with Mu Xia slightly stronger, both nearing the second-level True Intent stage of an Intermediate Law.

But in the end, Mu Xia was still defeated!

His mana was exhausted, and he conceded.

Just as Wu Yuan had said, in battles against someone at the same cultivation phase, if his opponents’ full-force attacks couldn't shake his defense, defeat was certain for them.

"Mu Xia has been defeated."

"Unbelievable defense, astounding endurance, Wu Yuan!" This battle left tens of thousands of spectators in awe.

In this clash of titans, Wu Yuan emerged victorious.

"No one can stop Wu Yuan now," declared the silver-armored giant, observing the battle alongside several Archimmortals.

And the outcome? It was as the silver-armored giant had predicted.

Time flowed by. One battle after another concluded.

Half a month later, Wu Yuan achieved a record of 142 consecutive victories.

In 8 of the 142 battles, Wu Yuan exhausted his opponents' ether or mana before clinching victory. But no matter the method, Wu Yuan relied on his own strength.

Unquestionably, he became the new heaven-tier member of the Fifth Origin Eldritch Field.

The true strongest member.

...

Among the five Origin Eldritch Fields, the First Origin Eldritch Field was treated with the most importance.

This was because countless geniuses over hundreds of thousands of years were gathered here; even its earth-tier members, upon passing their Tribulations, could become Astral Lords.

The Fifth Origin Eldritch Field was regarded with the least importance, but Wu Yuan's rise to the heaven tier drew significant attention from the higher-ups of the Cang Feng Eldritch World.

"Wu Yuan?"

"He's not even sixty years old yet."

"In terms of accomplishments for his age and considering his performance in the Bloodforge Spacetime, his rate of progress is astonishing."

"As long as he doesn't die prematurely, it's certain that he'll become an earth-tier member of the First Origin Eldritch Field in the future."

Many higher-ups in the Eldritch World were unaware that Wu Yuan had already been taken in as a disciple by an Eldritch Sovereign.

But that did not stop them from thinking highly of Wu Yuan.