Chapter 759: Slaying An Astral Lord (1)

Five hundred years have passed.

Wu Yuan mused silently.

The ancients spoke true when they said cultivation knows no years.

Over five hundred years ago, Wu Yuan was seven hundred years old. Now? He approached 1300 years of age.

Wu Yuan's mana body had explored the Dao Realm for more than five centuries, visiting five Dao Master battle relic sites, and was now in silent meditation at the sixth site.

Over the centuries, he had occasionally made appearances, crossing swords with Archimmortals and Archdeities from various factions of the Dao Realm, causing his reputation to soar ever higher.

Meanwhile, his qi refiner self remained in quiet seclusion on the Spacetime Island, not only cultivating mana and comprehending the Great Dao, but also successively receiving five spacetime inheritances.

His progress was immense.

I've reached the second-level True Intent stage of Spacetime.

Wu Yuan reflected inwardly. The more he delved into the Great Dao of Spacetime, the more he sensed its profound difficulty. Each step forward was incredibly arduous.

Fusing the Laws of Space and Time was far more challenging than comprehending them separately.

One had to understand that this rapid rate of progress was only possible due to Wu Yuan's powerful Yuan Soul, the fact that he was still an immortal cultivator, guidance from the ‘Nine Swords of Spacetime’, as well as the spacetime inheritances and other resources at his disposal.

If it were Senior Brother Jiang Huan and the others, it would take at least tens of millions of years for them to reach this level once they become Astral Monarchs, given their talent.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

His advancements in Dao comprehension had also led to great improvements in techniques like the ‘Nine Swords of Spacetime’ and ‘Moonlight Shadow’.

In terms of mana cultivation, I've successfully become a First Tribulation High Immortal.

Wu Yuan felt the surging mana within him.

It was over ten times more powerful than when he was at the ninth-stage Earth Immortal phase.

A First Tribulation High Immortal with a first-degree immortal root could rival Second or Third Tribulation High Immortals with second or third-degree immortal roots.

A High Immortal had to undergo an Immortal Tribulation every 180,000 years for their first six Tribulations, and complete the seventh tribulation within a million years at most to forge an immortal body and become a first-stage Archimmortal.

The Immortal Tribulation was a divine test from the Heavens, where myriad trials – Lightning, Wind Killing, Heart Fire, and more – converged upon a cultivator's form. Should one fail to weather this tempest of tribulations, they would inevitably crumble to ash and be scattered to the winds.

Thus, most High Immortals with insufficient strength would try their best to delay, only triggering an Immortal Tribulation when the 180,000-year limit approached.

But in reality, the Immortal Tribulations were also opportunities, helping immortal cultivators rapidly temper their bodies and mana.

For instance, when Wu Yuan's body refiner self was adventuring in the Immutable Land, the multitude of High Immortals and High Eldritches there were unable to forge their immortal or eldritch bodies precisely because that world could not generate Immortal Tribulations.

Delaying Immortal Tribulations is the choice of ordinary High Immortals.

A look of eagerness flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes.

As for me, I intend to undergo all six Tribulations in one go.

Most peerless geniuses would become Sixth Tribulation High Immortals or Sixth Tribulation High Deities in an extremely short time.

Of course, there was still a limit to how fast one could progress.

To push my mana capacity from its current level to the peak of First Tribulation High Immortal, then trigger an Immortal Tribulation, it would take at least 2000 years even with divine crystals.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

By his calculations, it would take roughly ten thousand years to cultivate from First Tribulation to Sixth Tribulation High Immortal.

Using divine crystal elixir would naturally reduce the time taken, but the mana one had to accumulate at the High Immortal phase far exceeded that of the Earth Immortal phase, and the price to pay was truly too great.

To use divine crystal elixir for cultivation at the High Immortal phase? Even an Astral Monarch couldn't afford to bankrupt themselves for such extravagance.

And the effect would merely save one ten thousand years, a pitiful cost-performance ratio.

Even if one became a Sixth Tribulation High Immortal early on, one would still need to spend several hundred thousand years to improve their Dao comprehension.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

Moreover, there's little difference between a First and Sixth Tribulation High Immortal when it comes to Dao comprehension.

Thus, to Wu Yuan's knowledge, since ancient times, even peerless geniuses would only use divine crystals to cultivate their mana after reaching the High Immortal or High Deity phase.

Wu Yuan was in no rush. Becoming a Sixth Tribulation High Immortal within ten thousand years was already extremely fast.

At least for now, I've already cultivated part two of ‘Genesis Law Sacrifice’. Even if I became a Sixth Tribulation High Immortal, it would only extend my battle endurance. The power I could unleash wouldn't be any stronger.

Wu Yuan understood clearly.

My strength is about the same as what I estimated five hundred years ago.

His mana body, due to further advancements in his sword techniques, now had strength slightly surpassing an eighth-stage Archimmortal!

As for his qi refiner self, possessing nine lifebound flying swords, his power was even more terrifying. Wu Yuan was confident he could match late-stage Astral Lords, and perhaps even gain the upper hand against them.

One had to understand that while the optimal evolution pathway of lifebound flying swords came at an enormous cost, the swords’ formidable power would become increasingly apparent as one progressed.

Take Astral Lords for example. Even with sufficient wealth, why did they rarely use mid-grade celestial artifacts? It was because the mana consumption was too great, and wielding them took far more effort compared to their lifebound flying swords.

And Wu Yuan's lifebound flying swords, though appearing to be low-grade celestial artifacts, actually possessed power surpassing mid-grade celestial artifacts.

Once his nine swords struck in unison, who could possibly match him?

My qi refiner self grows ever stronger, but compared to my body refiner self, the gap has actually widened.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

His body refiner self comprehended the Great Dao of Creation more swiftly, having already reached the third-level True Intent stage of Creation. With an Apotheosis root, cultivating ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’ progressed even more smoothly.

The true strength of his body refiner self was unfathomable, yet he remained in the Summerpeak World, silently cultivating in seclusion, awaiting the day he would unveil his power.

...

Although there were still nearly two hundred years until the deadline for the Dao Master-level spacetime mission, Wu Yuan was unwilling to wait any longer.

With his current strength, even if he cultivated for another thousand years, it would be difficult to achieve any qualitative change.

This was the norm. Many peerless geniuses would progress rapidly in their first few hundred or thousand years, but as they advanced further, the pace of improvement naturally slowed. Often, even tens of thousands of years would pass with little progress.

It was like a skyscraper - once the building reached a certain height, raising it even one meter higher would become incredibly difficult, if not impossible.

After completing this Dao Master-level spacetime mission, I can use the remaining time to complete other Sovereign-level missions.

Wu Yuan had a clear cultivation plan.

Spacetime missions operated on thousand-year cycles, with each cycle allowing a maximum of ten Sovereign-level missions and one Dao Master-level mission.

Even if Wu Yuan successfully completed all missions in each cycle, it would still take over ten thousand years to meet the minimum requirements for the Legacy Imprint.

Half a month later, Wu Yuan's mana body returned to the Spacetime Island from the sixth Dao Master battle relic site.

Mana body, carrying the Genesis Divine Pillar, Void Rift Ruler, Myriad Woods Dao Treasure, as well as numerous low-grade and mid-grade celestial artifacts...

Qi refiner self, carrying the Genesis Star, Genesis Divine Pillar, nine lifebound flying swords, a multitude of celestial swords, and Nine Firmaments In A Thought bestowed by Grandmaster Bei You...

Wu Yuan silently made his preparations.

In addition to numerous battle treasures, Wu Yuan had also purchased various medicinal pills, array disks, and other items. In particular, he bought vast quantities of medicinal pills for detoxification and mana replenishment.

Unlike a mana body, whose demise was inconsequential as it could be recreated after some cultivation, one could never be too careful when one’s true self ventured forth.

After all, if his true self perished, that would mean true death.

All preparations are complete! Time to depart!

His qi refiner self, carrying his mana body, stepped into the spacetime teleportation array and selected the destination.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Warning: Dao Master Imprint bearer Ming Jian, your true self is about to leave the Spacetime Island. Confirm teleportation?" A cold voice rang out.

"Confirm!"

Whoosh~

Accompanied by a soaring pillar of light, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self and mana body simultaneously vanished from the teleportation array.

...

In the Snowlight Mist Realm, amidst the Frost Mist Sea and endless ethereal mist, a white-robed figure appeared out of thin air.

The first time I teleported here, I arrived at this place. Now, my qi refiner self has been sent here again? It truly seems there might be some hand of fate at work.

Wu Yuan stood in the void, gazing into the distance at various points in space.

With his level of sensitivity to spatial fluctuations, he could clearly perceive a multitude of peculiar disturbances. Everything lay bare before him.

It's been five hundred years since I last came to the Snowlight Mist Realm. I wonder how many still remember me.

A faint smile played at the corners of Wu Yuan's mouth.

I also wonder how many of those Astral Lords from back then are still here.

Five hundred years was a very brief period for Archimmortals and Astral Lords. Once they began exploring a certain area, they rarely left quickly.

Mm. This time, my goal is to enter the Black Devil Blood Hollow, but if I can sense some Astral Lord enemies through karmic threads along the way, then I might as well resolve some karma in passing.

A glint of killing intent flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes.

Repaying debts of vengeance - this was Wu Yuan's creed.

Five hundred years ago, Wu Yuan had relied on his ability to enter the Turbulent Spatial Layer to roam the Snowlight Mist Realm with confidence.

Now? His confidence had grown even further.

No one can force me to back down without a fight. Even if I encounter someone as powerful as Astral Lord Gu Shou, they’ll have to clash blades with me before anything is resolved.

Swish!

Wu Yuan took a step forward, entering the Turbulent Spatial Layer and swiftly heading towards the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

...

Wu Yuan advanced through the Turbulent Spatial Layer, his Soul Will spread out, sensing the spatial fluctuations from all directions. At the same time, he also paid conscious attention to the presence of karmic threads.

Several centuries had passed since his frenzied killing spree, and very few ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities who shared a karmic connection with him dared remain in the Snowlight Mist Realm.

Hm?

As he traveled, Wu Yuan felt something and halted. He then reached out and grasped at the void, causing an invisible force to penetrate the Material Spatial Layer from the Turbulent Spatial Layer.

In a tranquil section of the void, a broken celestial sword floated, drifting aimlessly.

Whoosh~

Suddenly, a large hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the sword hilt.

Then, as if being dragged underwater, the broken celestial sword and the large hand both vanished into thin air, and this section of void quickly returned to stillness.

Within the Turbulent Spatial Layer, Wu Yuan examined the sword closely.

To think it's a mid-grade celestial artifact? A battle sword? It seems to have once belonged to a powerful Archdeity.

His mana permeated the interior of the sword, sensing the fragmented information held in its core. The sword had clearly endured a brutal battle to end up in such a state.

A mid-grade celestial artifact is worth a million divine crystals, but this sword is far too damaged. Even its core essence is mostly shattered.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

Artifacts and weapons were not eternal. In battle, weapon breakage was commonplace. There was also the corrosion of time. Many high-grade celestial artifacts would rust over the long ages.

Only Dao Instruments, containing complete Dao Laws, existed alongside heaven and earth, impervious to external forces, and could remain unchanging for as long as heaven and earth.

This sword is too severely damaged to be used. Its power likely doesn't even match a low-grade celestial artifact. It can only be sold for its raw materials, worth perhaps tens of thousands of divine crystals.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Tens of thousands of divine crystals was not bad.

Is this providence? With strong providence, one easily obtains many opportunities and treasures.

Wu Yuan understood that providence and opportunity were merely aids; the key was one's own strength.

With great power, one could face any storm without fear.

So-called providence was just part of heaven and earth's operation. As for those transcendent supreme beings, they could ignore even samsara cycles, naturally disregarding so-called providence.