Chapter 728: The Astral Monarch’s Treasure Trove (2)

The two conversed for a bit longer before Wu Yuan stood to take his leave, disappearing from Archimmortal Xu Cai's sight.

Wu Yuan? He's only been cultivating for such a short time, disappearing for a few hundred years, yet somehow, he gives me a feeling of immense danger.

Archimmortal Xu Cai mused to herself as she sat alone on the jade platform.

At first, she had assumed Wu Yuan was merely an Earth Eldritch, and felt a touch of displeasure at how he addressed her. But as their conversation continued, the sharp edge she sensed within Wu Yuan's soul shocked her tremendously. She no longer dared to underestimate him.

After cultivating for a few hundred years, his current strength is likely a mystery. In ten thousand years, his power might rival that of an Archimmortal.

Archimmortal Xu Cai thought to herself.

Moreover, for the Astral Lord to give me a direct order to take Little Yi as a disciple, was this to appease Wu Yuan?

This spoke volumes about Wu Yuan's importance.

It seems that some high-ranking figures in the eldritch world are paying close attention to, or even favor this Wu Yuan.

Archimmortal Xu Cai pondered.

Her knowledge was limited, making it impossible to deduce the full picture.

However, the Shan Yue Sect is not to be trifled with. Their Astral Lord is a ninth-stage Archimmortal, and may not necessarily do him any favors.

Archimmortal Xu Cai shook her head slightly.

If he could claim the heaven-tier title in the Second Origin Eldritch Field, that might be a different story.

Even if this Wu Yuan has suspicions, he can't do anything against Astral Lord Shan Yue.

A ninth-stage Archimmortal was a peak Astral Lord, just a step away from becoming an Astral Monarch.

Such a figure wasn’t someone an ordinary immortal cultivator could challenge, let alone meet.

...

Time passed, and Wu Yuan sought help from two other Archeldritches/Archimmortals to inquire with the Shan Yue Sect about Fang Xia's situation.

The result was the same as when Archimmortal Xu Cai made her inquiry. The Archimmortals of the Shan Yue Sect had only one answer: Fang Xia is dead.

But at the same time, they couldn't produce any evidence, nor would they allow other Archimmortals or Archeldritches to investigate the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley.

Hence, there was no progress on this front.

Inside the Thunder Marsh World, Wu Yuan cultivated while pondering.

It's very strange. Although I haven't revealed much of my talent in these few hundred years, just claiming the heaven-tier title in the Fourth Origin Eldritch Field after only a few decades of cultivation should be enough to show I'm not to be trifled with.

Wu Yuan frowned slightly.

Add to that the consecutive inquiries from several Archimmortals and Archeldritches. Logically, to avoid trouble, even if Fang Xia were truly dead, the Shan Yue Sect should have made an effort to provide an explanation, rather than covering it up.

Wu Yuan shook his head.

It was too strange. Typically, these major sects and factions would avoid making enemies with other Archimmortals unless absolutely necessary.

Moreover, Fang Xia's soul lamp hadn't gone out yet.

If I were truly just an ordinary Earth Eldritch, that would be one thing.

Wu Yuan's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.

But they're unwilling to tell the truth and won't allow me to enter the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley?

Under normal circumstances, only Earth Immortals, Earth Eldritches, and lower-level immortal cultivators were allowed to explore the Thousand Serpent Forbidden Valley.

But rules meant little to the strong. The Shan Yue Sect wasn’t qualified to make Wu Yuan obey their rules, and he had no intention of doing so.

When I return to the eldritch world, I'll go to the Shan Yue Sect.

Wu Yuan had thought it through.

As long as he finished cultivating part one of ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’, he would have little to fear below the Astral Monarch level.

In fact, Wu Yuan had another option, which was to request help from an Astral Monarch, such as Astral Monarch Hou Qu. Once an Astral Monarch intervened, the Shan Yue Sect would likely not dare to be so evasive.

Archimmortal Xu Cai and the others he had asked for help with this matter were, after all, just ordinary Archimmortals and Archeldritches, unable to intimidate the Shan Yue Sect.

However, if he personally asked Astral Monarch Hou Qu for help with Fang Xia's matter without his master's approval – how would a mighty Astral Monarch view it? It was hard to say whether they’d be willing to help him.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the end, my fame and strength are still not great enough. The top powerhouses of the eldritch world only help me out of respect for my master.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

I'm still just a youngster in the eyes of the eldritch world's powerhouses.

I've only cultivated for a short time, and haven’t made any true friends or subordinates yet.

There was no other way. Some things had to be done personally.

...

In the blink of an eye, two years passed.

Finally, my body refiner self has mastered the karmic secret art, and I've cultivated ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’ to a large degree of mastery.

Wu Yuan sat in lotus position atop a massive boulder.

Within his internal shambhala, countless mysterious Dao patterns were converging, faintly forming the silhouette of a massive Thunder Beast Diagram – these were the cryptic patterns of the Saint Prohibition Art.

Though this massive Thunder Beast Diagram still appeared crude, the pressure it emanated was incredibly potent, enough to make one's heart tremble!

Surrounding the internal shambhala, surging vital ether swirled, ready to burst forth through the Saint Prohibition cryptic patterns at any moment.

Let's give it a try.

Wu Yuan thought to himself. With a mental command, a vast amount of vital ether poured into his internal shambhala.

Boom!

The Saint Prohibition cryptic patterns activated, releasing a blindingly brilliant azure light. His vital ether, already comparable to a First Tribulation High Deity, began to flow out like a turbulent river. Following the mysterious channels between the internal shambhala and his body, it instantly infused every part of his physique.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

The vital ether surged through every meridian in his body, flooding into every bit of flesh and blood, nourishing his musculoskeletal structure.

Wu Yuan felt an overwhelming, surging power ready to burst forth at his command.

Whew!

Wu Yuan's eyes reddened slightly, feeling pain ripping throughout his body as if it was being torn apart, but it quickly ended. It was always a bit painful the first time.

Gradually, Wu Yuan adapted to his newly enhanced vital ether.

Now, the power of my vital ether is roughly equivalent to a Fourth Tribulation High Deity.

Wu Yuan estimated.

As one cultivated part one of the Creation Saint Prohibition to a small degree, large degree, and eventually completion, the power of one's vital ether would steadily increase to the level of a First Tribulation High Immortal, Fourth Tribulation High Immortal, and first-stage Archimmortal, respectively. These were fixed power levels.

However, the stronger I become, the longer I can sustain this enhanced vital ether in battle.

Wu Yuan had basically figured it out.

For instance, my unenhanced ether is only comparable to a First Tribulation High Deity, so in a prolonged battle, I'm not as formidable as a Fourth Tribulation High Deity.

Essentially, Creation Saint Prohibition couldn't increase the total amount of Wu Yuan's vital ether out of thin air. It merely compressed the vital ether, increasing its quality while reducing the total quantity.

I'm only an Earth Eldritch now, my body is too weak. Even if my Dao comprehension is deep enough, and I spend a great deal of time cultivating part three to completion, my body would likely be torn apart once I unleash it.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

The enhanced vital ether was too potent; his physical form couldn't withstand it. He would need to become a High Eldritch before he could truly unleash the full power of ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’.

Come to think of it, ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’ and ‘Genesis Law Sacrifice’ are somewhat similar.

Wu Yuan mused.

However, cultivating ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’ requires comprehending the Great Dao of Creation, and only those with an Apotheosis root have hope of mastering it. Its advantage lies in that one can rely solely on oneself for power, without needing external resources.

The Genesis Law Sacrifice, on the other hand, has lower requirements, but its drawback is the extremely high demand for external resources.

His qi refiner self couldn't cultivate ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’. But if he could employ ‘Genesis Law Sacrifice’, his direct combat strength wouldn't be too weak.

I've mastered part one to a large degree, but to reach completion? That'll take at least a few more decades.

Wu Yuan roughly estimated.

It would consume too much time. Fang Xia’s matter couldn't afford to wait.

The power of a Fourth Tribulation High Deity should be enough.

Wu Yuan thought, giving a mental command.

Whoosh!

Beside Wu Yuan, another black-robed figure appeared, his appearance and vital aura identical to Wu Yuan's.

It was the ether body of his body refiner self!

His ether body was essentially a part of his internal shambhala, equally capable of wielding ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’. In terms of total vital ether and combat prowess, it was nearly indistinguishable from his true self. Only its ability to recover vital ether was inferior to the true self.

Let's go.

Wu Yuan's ether body moved, instantly transforming into a streak of light that shot into the distant canyon passage.

In an instant, it accelerated to light speed, barreling through the winding path towards the Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World.

Indeed!

Even within the twisting, serpentine canyon passages, Wu Yuan's burst speed effortlessly reached light speed. If he employed time acceleration, his speed would soar even further.

Though Wu Yuan's body refiner self couldn't wield the Great Dao of Spacetime, the mere combination of the Laws of Time and Space with the Great Dao of Creation could already grant immensely formidable power.

Of course, unless absolutely necessary, Wu Yuan wouldn't reveal his body refiner self's deep insights into Space and Time.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan sped forth at an extreme velocity.

The Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World was dangerous for ordinary Earth Immortals. But for Wu Yuan's ether body, there was no danger at all.

Common thunder beasts? By the time they noticed Wu Yuan, he would’ve already passed by like a gust of wind.

Thunder beast kings? A mere thought would be enough to slay them.

Swiftly, Wu Yuan entered the Core Region.

...

The Core Region of the Thunder Marsh World was an expansive wilderness, surrounded on all sides by massive stone walls. The walls were thick and ancient, stretching for a hundred li, exuding an aura of antiquity.

A full 365 Dao pattern diagrams adorned the stone walls.

On this enormous wilderness spanning over a hundred thousand li in diameter, six teams were converging from all directions.

Each team consisted of dozens of figures, their auras varying in strength. A small minority were High Immortals, while the vast majority were at the Earth Immortal phase.

At this moment, the gazes of these hundreds of powerful immortal cultivators were fixed on an azure sphere hovering at the center of the wilderness.

The sphere, about ten thousand li in diameter, resembled a planet, its surface etched with countless mysterious Dao patterns.

This planet was emitting waves of lightning, spreading out for thirty thousand li. The lightning contained unfathomable power, preventing the various teams from approaching.

There were six enormous openings in the azure planet, leading to unknown places.

Time passed.

Whoosh!

Immortal cultivators from the six teams occasionally attempted to breach the sea of lightning. But as soon as they entered, they would be assailed by lightning strikes. At first, the attacks weren't too powerful, but the deeper they ventured, the stronger the attacks became.

Eventually, one cultivator after another was forced to retreat from the lightning sea, returning to the outskirts of the wilderness.

"Senior Uncle. What should we do? The treasure left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei has finally resurfaced, but we can't even reach it," an Earth Immortal from one of the teams couldn't help but speak up. "The strongest Earth Immortals in our sect, along with the High Immortals capable of entering, are all here."

"Don't be hasty," the white-robed High Immortal at the forefront said softly. "Did you think the Astral Monarch's treasure would be so easily obtained?

We may not be able do it, but neither can the other five major sects."