Chapter 866: The Opening of the Megaverse Crossroads (2)

Time flowed on.

In the temple where Wu Yuan, Xuan Rong, and Cang Yu resided, super-geniuses would occasionally appear out of thin air, indicating the arrival of a new branch Saintdom group.

The number of people in the temple grew steadily. Other geniuses would come to converse with Wu Yuan, Xuan Rong and others, allowing them to grow somewhat familiar with each other.

As time passed, the frequency of appearances of newcomers gradually slowed.

"It seems we're almost at full attendance," Xuan Rong said quietly. "According to the Overlord's intelligence, there are fourteen Supreme Geniuses in the entire Eldritch Court, and fifty-seven who have mastered Sovereign-level techniques. Currently, there are fifteen seated on jade platforms, and sixty-six standing.”

"Some must have been hiding their strength until now," Wu Yuan said.

Any intelligent lifeform had the instinct to conceal their trump cards. Some geniuses might rarely reveal their true capabilities, flying under the radar.

After all, the megaverse was vast, and the territory under the Eldritch Court's rule was endless. How could one gather intelligence on every single genius?

"We're not at full attendance yet, at least one person hasn't arrived," High Immortal Cang Yu said softly.

"At least one more?" Xuan Rong was taken aback.

Just then, a magnificent aura suddenly appeared in the temple, its powerful pressure enveloping the entire space.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Those Supreme Geniuses sitting at the front of the temple on jade platforms all stood up, looking toward the source of the erupting aura.

Xuan Rong and High Immortal Cang Yu likewise involuntarily turned to look.

It was a youth in black armor. He was neither tall nor short, his battle armor seemingly ordinary at first glance, and his face was the most common square-shaped type, with a somewhat dark complexion.

From top to bottom, he could only be described as - ordinary!

The only slightly special thing about him was the pair of black gloves he wore, clearly artifacts specifically crafted for him.

Yet beneath this ordinary exterior, he gave off the impression of a mountain - a towering, endless, insurmountable peak. Vast, heavy, matchless!

"Zhu Shan!"

"He comprehends the Great Dao of Five Elements, and it's said he has fully mastered three Greater Laws - Water, Fire, and Earth. An absolute monstrous prodigy."

"The Great Dao of Five Elements, the mightiest of all Great Daos!"

"Finally, we get to see him."

"Number one! The Eldritch Court headquarters' greatest genius, who swept aside all other geniuses in the headquarters' exchange battles."

Complete silence fell.

At this moment, whether it was Xuan Rong, Cang Yu, and other geniuses who had mastered Sovereign-level techniques, or the renowned geniuses like Qin Shan shrouded in blood robes, the snow-lotus-like Bai Lian of immaculate purity, Hou Xiao, Wan Bao, and other famous figures, everyone stared at the youth in black armor.

Vaguely, it was as if various independent warlords were paying audience to the one true emperor who ruled all under heaven.

Whoosh!

The black-armored Zhu Shan's gaze swept across the various geniuses, his expression remaining consistently calm.

Suddenly, when his gaze fell upon Wu Yuan, it stopped, and he immediately stepped forward, appearing directly before Wu Yuan.

Still staring at Wu Yuan, his eyes seemed to hold a hint of curiosity.

"What is Zhu Shan doing?"

"He's staring at Wu Yuan?"

"What does this mean?" The many geniuses in the temple grew puzzled, and those Supreme Geniuses particularly furrowed their brows.

Nearby, Xuan Rong and Cang Yu dared not speak.

"Wu Yuan?" Zhu Shan suddenly spoke, his voice deep and magnetic, quite captivating.

"Yes," Wu Yuan calmly nodded.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"The Eldritch Progenitor says that you are the only one with hope of catching up to me in this generation of the Eldritch Court," Zhu Shan stared at Wu Yuan. "I hope you won't disappoint me."

His voice carried no provocation, but instead was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"You'll need to work hard too. When I was born, you were already a Supreme Genius," Wu Yuan smiled. "Until now, you're still just a Supreme Genius. When my cultivation speed picks up, even I'm not sure how far I’ll go."

"Heh, interesting." Zhu Shan revealed a slight smile. "Good, I await the day you can match me. The Eldritch Court needs you to grow powerful. See you at the Crossroads."

"See you at the Crossroads," Wu Yuan responded in kind.

Whoosh!

Zhu Shan spoke no more, directly flying to the front of the temple, where a jade platform naturally appeared for him. He sat in lotus position.

The jade platforms of other Supreme Geniuses were arranged in a single row without hierarchy. But Zhu Shan's was positioned one row ahead of the other Supreme Geniuses.

Zhu Shan!

Wu Yuan silently stared at his back, the relevant information about him surfacing in his mind.

Zhu Shan, a monstrous prodigy who had cultivated for less than two hundred thousand years, was acclaimed as the most extraordinary genius to emerge from not just the Eldritch Court but the entire megaverse.

It wasn’t just this Megaverse Crossroads. Throughout the long years since the beginning of heaven and earth, he was one of the most monstrous and dazzling geniuses, invincible! His life until now could only be described as a legend.

Information on him is highly classified, even recent battle footage is unavailable.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

But just the nuggets of information known are already unbelievable.

Zhu Shan cultivated the Great Dao of Five Elements, unanimously recognized as the number one path among all Great Daos, the mightiest Great Dao.

Other Daos like the Great Dao of Spacetime, Great Dao of Creation, and Great Dao of Destruction only required the fusion of two Greater Laws.

But the Great Dao of Five Elements required the unification of five Greater Laws - Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Naturally, it was incomparably heaven-defying.

Being able to completely comprehend one Greater Law already meant that one had Sovereign-level insight, worthy of being called a Supreme Genius.

Yet Zhu Shan had fully comprehended the Greater Laws of Water, Fire, and Earth, while also comprehending the Law of Metal and the Law of Wood to extremely high levels.

However, I wonder what degree he has fused them to.

Wu Yuan pondered.

From what Wu Yuan knew, for those who comprehended the Great Dao of Five Elements, fully comprehending one Law allowed one to cultivate an additional ether body.

One could cultivate up to five ether bodies, which was why the Great Dao of Five Elements was recognized as the top Great Dao.

From this, it could be deduced that besides his true self, Zhu Shan had three ether bodies that could fight simultaneously, naturally granting him extraordinary strength.

Number one! When other Supreme Geniuses of the Eldritch Court fought Zhu Shan, they all lost. It seems none could even last very long.

Wu Yuan shook his head.

Though there was no specific battle footage, Zhu Shan's strength was evident.

During their brief exchange earlier, Wu Yuan could vaguely sense the difference in Zhu Shan's vital aura, suggesting the other likely also possessed an Apotheosis root.

As for an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, Wu Yuan couldn't determine whether he had one for sure.

Legend has it that he's already been accepted as an Eldritch Progenitor's disciple.

Wu Yuan pondered silently.

In terms of talent, with my two true selves combined, simultaneously comprehending two Great Daos, I may not be inferior to him.

However, I don’t have two hundred thousand years for gradual cultivation.

The Megaverse Crossroads is my opportunity!

Whether it lasts several thousand years or over ten thousand years, if I can grasp the opportunities within the Megaverse Crossroads, I can greatly close the gap.

Wu Yuan's heart filled with yearning.

Yes! Zhu Shan was ridiculously powerful - so much so that many super geniuses of the Eldritch Court had already abandoned any thoughts of competing with him.

But Wu Yuan had never thought of giving up.

Even today, meeting Zhu Shan and sensing that he was even stronger than rumored, Wu Yuan felt no discouragement; instead, his fighting spirit burned even brighter.

This was the confidence that came from his own power and talent!

It was also the belief born from repeatedly surpassing his past self and creating miracles.

Moreover, Wu Yuan refused to admit defeat.

...

"Zhu Shan actually initiated conversation with Wu Yuan, seeming to regard him very highly."

"Wu Yuan's talent is indeed exceptional, but he can't possibly defeat Zhu Shan in this Megaverse Crossroads."

"Zhu Shan is too powerful - to be born in the same era as such a monstrous prodigy..." the geniuses in the temple whispered among themselves.

They all felt a subtle sense of powerlessness take root in their hearts. Those who could enter this temple were all top-tier geniuses from their respective universes, yet facing Zhu Shan, they couldn't help but feel helpless, the gap seemingly impossible to bridge.

"Wu Yuan!"

"Both the Eldritch Progenitor and Zhu Shan mentioned Wu Yuan in their conversation?"

"Is Wu Yuan the only one who has hope of catching up to Zhu Shan?" Qin Shan, Hou Xiao, Bai Lian, and other Supreme Geniuses couldn't help but take another look at Wu Yuan.

They had long known of Wu Yuan's profile, but most hadn't truly taken him seriously. After all, Wu Yuan's strength was still weaker than theirs.

But it turned out even a supreme Eldritch Progenitor had praised Wu Yuan. Naturally they paid more attention to him.

Having cultivated to this level, Qin Shan, Bai Lian, Wan Bao and other geniuses wouldn't easily give up either.

In the early stages of the Megaverse Crossroads, the Eldritch Court powerhouses would mostly stay united, but competition would intensify later on, and encountering strong opponents from the same faction would be a normal occurrence.

Moreover, each time the Megaverse Crossroads opened, there would only be three Saintcrests at most, and it was common for those from the same faction to become opponents in the final round.

Time passed.

Nearly a day went by, and three more geniuses arrived, bringing the total number in the hall to an astounding eighty-eight people.

Finally, a barbaric giant wearing earthy-yellow battle armor, appearing quite rugged, materialized at the end of the temple.

He smiled as he looked down at the geniuses in the hall. At the same time, an invisible force seemed to compel all the geniuses to look up.

He easily suppressed all the geniuses with his presence alone.

"Eighty-eight people, not bad," the barbaric giant smiled. "Compared to the last time, six more qualified to enter the Genius Temple. You may call me Great Eldritch Kua Fu."

"Great Eldritch Kua Fu."

"It's actually Great Eldritch Kua Fu."

"The legendary Kua Fu." The expressions of these geniuses instantly grew fervent.

Wu Yuan also looked at the barbaric giant with considerable surprise - it was actually Great Eldritch Kua Fu?

He couldn't help but recall the ‘Celestial Body Law Codex’ he had obtained in his early years, which had been spread far and wide by Great Eldritch Kua Fu.

He never imagined that he would meet the creator in person today.