Soon, the eighth day of the Primordial Steps Trialmmenced.

The thousands of geniuses had all figured out the basic rules for ascending the steps. For every Foundation Diagram analyzed, oneuld ascend another step. Comprehending the thousandth Foundation Diagram represented a threshold, marking true entry into the path of matter, with the potential to cultivate the Primordial Technique.

Meanwhile,mprehending the 3000th Foundation Diagram represented reaching a certain level of achievement on the path of matter, with the potential to unleash tremendous power through the Primordial Technique.

This was understood by all who hadmprehended a thousand Foundation Diagrams of the Primordial Doctrine.

"Wu Yuan is very close to the 3000th step."

"Can he cross it?"

"Hard to say, I feel it's quite difficult."

"Only a dozen or so steps remain. Even if he can't cross it now, heuld probably do it before the time limit."

"Too incredible." Many geniuses sighed inwardly. Those who climbed just over a thousand steps felt nothing but admiration and respect for Wu Yuan.

If the gap weren't so vast, it would have sparked jealousy. But now, the distance between them and Wu Yuan had grown immeasurable. Oneuld say that aside from Lie Jin, no one on the Primordial Steps stairway had any hope of catching up to Wu Yuan.

"This Wu Yuan, his progress in the Great Dao of Creation was already shocking, how can hemprehend the Primordial Doctrine so quickly too?"

"It defiesmmon sense."

"His progress is too fast. At this rate, he's destined to be the undisputed first." The numerous Immortal Court geniuses felt anxious and frustrated.

"Though Zhu Shan's amplishments on the path of matter are limited, it's likely because he disdains this path. His overwhelming strength guarantees him a spot in the top ten."

"Wu Yuan is shining so brilliantly right now. He’s basically guaranteed a place in the top ten as well," Mu Long shook his head and sighed.

"And that Lie Jin, whom we hadn't taken note of before, actually made such remarkable progress in the Primordial Doctrine. His strength cannot be underestimated, and he too stands a chance of breaking into the top ten," another Supreme Genius of the Immortal Court immediately transmitted.

The Immortal Court geniusesuldn't help but worry. Even though the Immortal Court's number genius, Li Guang, was undeniably brilliant, he paled significantlympared to Wu Yuan and Zhu Shan.

Lie Jin, Bai Lian, and other Eldritch Court geniuses were equally dazzling, especially Lie Jin, whose achievements in the Primordial Doctrine were truly exceptional.

"Push forward!"

"Wu Yuan!!"

"You must cross the 3000th step!" The hundreds of geniuses from the Eldritch Court were filled with anticipation, hoping Wu Yuan would create a miracle. Being part of the Eldritch Court lineage as well, they felt a deepnnection with Wu Yuan. The stronger Wu Yuan was, the more jubilant they felt.

Wu Yuan? My disciple is truly a force of nature.

High Immortal Dong Yang's eyes gleamed with light. He had climbed over 1300 steps himself, which was quite impressive. However,mpared to Wu Yuan, the gap was large.

Moreover, among the thousands ofmpeting geniuses, only High Immortal Dong Yang knew that Ming Jian was Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, who had also reached over two thousand steps. Wu Yuan's two true selves were both terrifying.

…

Wu Yuan is truly amazing, growing even more incredible over time.

Zhuo Haiyue, clad in silver armor, murmured to herself.

Though she didn't know Wu Yuan and Ming Jian were the same person, she remembered the kindness Wu Yuan had shown when he chose to save her before. She had quite a favorable impression of Wu Yuan.

Ming Jian is not bad either, perhaps he too has a chance at making it into the top ten.

Zhuo Haiyue's gaze swept over the white-robed man meditating in the distance. Ming Jian appeared rather ethereal, perhaps due tomprehending the Great Dao of Spacetime.

I must work hard too.

Zhuo Haiyue quietly settled into meditation.

She had obtained numerous opportunities from various Divine Domain Worlds, entering the Primordial Doctrine Temple several times. Now she had climbed over 1600 steps, ranking quite high.

…

2990 steps! 2995 steps! When only five steps remained, Wu Yuan finally stopped, and for a long time, didn'tntinue climbing upward.

"He's stopped."

"Has Wu Yuan reached his limit?"

"Just a tiny bit more." Geniuses from various factions were filled with uncertainty. The hundreds of Eldritch Court geniuses felt regret, while the Immortal Court geniuses showed hints of joy.

The vast majority of geniuses? They all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. If Wu Yuan were to cross three thousand steps now, it would be too devastating.

Suddenly, after staying still for so long, Wu Yuan abruptly shot upward to a higher step.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

This time he didn't stop, charging directly up to the 3000th step.

Rumble~

It was as if he had triggered something in the Heavenly Domain. [1] Instantly, the entire Primordial Steps stairway, shimmering with mysterious light, began to vibrate. Invisible qi currents swirled around Wu Yuan, obscuring him from view and rendering him nothing more than a blurry silhouette.

"3000 steps.”

"He crossed it?"

"He actually made it?" A wave of exclamations rippled through the crowd of participants, leaving them astounded. Their hearts, which had just begun to steady, now raced once more.

Hum~

An unseen wave enveloped everyone, plunging the Primordial Steps stairway into a profound silence.

"Excellent, someone has finallymprehended all Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams," the white-robed middle-aged man’s voice rang out from the distance.

"Keep pushing forward! Though possessing sufficient strength might earn you a Saintcrest, understanding the Primordial Doctrine is intricately linked to claiming the Saintcrest in this Megaverse Crossroads," hentinued. "Even if you fail to reach the summit, the more youmprehend and analyze, the better your rewards."

This marked the first time the Heavenly Domain Emissary addressed them proactively since the stage began, His words were seemingly directed at Wu Yuan but audible to all the gathered geniuses.

How terrifying.

Instance thought to himself, observing Wu Yuan's now indistinct form.

Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams, fullymprehended? And this is just the beginning!

He reflected on his own journey.

Over the past nine thousand years, I’ve only been able to reach this stage. With a thousand years left, I might be able to fully analyze the Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams, but anything more will be difficult.

At least Zhu Shan is still struggling.

Instance noted, casting a glance down the steps while breathing a sigh of relief.

Otherwise,mpetition would be pointless.

But he hasn’t evenmprehended a thousand Foundation Diagrams?

A hint of surprise flickered in Instance's eyes, before he quickly pushed aside the thought.

Mympetitors are Wu Yuan, Zhu Shan and Lie Jin.

He mused, calming his mind as hentinued his cultivation with renewed resolve.

…

He actually broke through? This Wu Yuan'smprehension of the Primordial Doctrine is truly deep.

When we fought previously, he probably wasn't at this level yet.

Zhu Shan, who was at the 900th step, showed a hint of surprise.

Everyone was shocked by his subparmprehension of the Primordial Doctrine. Only he himself was uncerned.

It’s impossible for me tomprehend the Myriad Things Chapter of the Primordial Doctrine.

Zhu Shan shook his head slightly:

Only the Life Chapter and Spacetime Chapter remain... Might as well try the Spacetime Chapter.

Hopefully, I can make it to a thousand Foundation Diagrams, otherwise it would be somewhat embarrassing.

Zhu Shan smiled.

He wasn’t tooncerned about losing face. In fact, if not for the special environment of the Primordial Steps stairway making it impossible tomprehend the Great Daos, he wouldn't even bother trying tomprehend the Primordial Doctrine.

…

Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams!

Standing on the 3000th step, Wu Yuan noticed everything below growing blurry, as if he now existed in a different world. However, his attention was mainly focused on the Primordial Doctrine.

Previously, I had yet tomprehend the final two Foundation Diagrams.

Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile.

Unexpectedly, after starting from the first Foundation Diagram again,mpleting it, and following the guidance of these Primordial Steps,mprehending diagram after diagram anew... I unsciously broke through my bottleneck.

This was the result of accumulated insights finally bearing fruit. In terms of his depth ofmprehension of the Great Daos, Wu Yuan was far inferior to Zhu Shan, and even fell shortmpared to Li Guang, Instance, and the others. After all, his cultivation time was far too brief, forcing him to seek alternative paths.

Butmprehending the Primordial Doctrine was different. Whether it was Wu Yuan or Zhu Shan, or Instance and the others, they all started from zero, beginning on the same starting line. In the end, Wu Yuan surpassed all geniuses on this path, taking first place. Except for Lie Jin who was close, the others were far behind.

When he fullymprehended and perfected the Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams, the guiding effect of the final five Foundation Diagrams was no longer useful. Wu Yuan naturally broke through quickly.

With the Three Thousand Foundation Diagrams fullymprehended, my progress in the Primordial Technique will take a huge leap.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Through it, perhaps Iuld even bme a sempiternal lifeform directly.

Comprehending Laws and harnessing Dao essences to forge an immortal body was only one way to evolve into a sempiternal lifeform. Comprehending matter and rnstructing the matter in one’s body was another way, though this was much more difficult than the path of Laws.

After all, those who tread the path of Laws relied on the external power of essences, while those who chose the path of matter depended purely on themselves. Strictly speaking, the path of matter was the true way of validating the path through strength. And Wu Yuan had already reached this level.

3001st step.

Wu Yuan's gaze fell upon the implete diagram in the distance. Itntained no trace of Dao fluctuations, yet was filled with profundities – Wu Yuanuld onlymprehend a fraction of them.

Is this the first of the Five Thousand Primal Force Diagrams?

Wu Yuan immediately rgnized.

Following the guidance previously allowed me to make rapid breakthroughs. Now that my body refiner self has progressed to the snd level of the Primordial Doctrine, which is also my current limit of understanding, I will have to climb and break through step by step.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

He gazed up at the miniature Primordial Star, its purple flames burning brightly. The closer one approached, the clearer oneuld view it, revealing more distinct insights. However, with each step closer to it, the pressure grew increasingly intense.

One step quicker, all steps quicker.

Wu Yuan harbored desire in his heart.

Keep moving. I dare not say I'll definitely reach the peak. But at least, my body refiner self will give it everything to maintain first place, and strive to take an overwhelming lead.

Wu Yuan thought to himself

My qi refiner self must also strive to catch up to Lie Jin, working hard to take third place.

When it came tomprehending the Primordial Doctrine, his qi refiner self was indeed inferior to his body refiner self. This was a difference in natural talent.

1. I wanna say cutscene so bad ☜