Chapter 911: Wu Yuan And Zhu Shan (3)

In the vast expanse of the megaverse lay treasures of extraordinary rarity and mystery. Among them, Primordial Matter was a valuable prize even to Overlords, yet even it paled in comparison to the Chaos Origin Spring.

This treasure was not just rare; it possessed diverse uses, particularly in aiding cultivation. However, there were often limitations, such as users quickly developing resistance, leading to diminishing returns. This seemed to be a law under heaven and earth’s workings.

For Wu Yuan, Zhu Shan, Inconstance, and others, who were encountering the power of the Chaos Origin Spring for the first time, the benefits proved to be profound. In a span of just ten days, they could achieve progress equivalent to hundreds of years of cultivation. More significantly, the likelihood of overcoming a comprehension bottleneck greatly increased, offering them a rare opportunity to advance.

In the blink of an eye, it was the sixth day.

Wu Yuan's body refiner hovered above the serene lake, cultivating silently.

His aura surged around him in waves, while azure Dao patterns materialized, coalesced, and merged seamlessly into his being. The entire realm within his internal shambhala seemed to tremble and sway.

"Master," The colossal Little Black swam through the ocean of ether, its eyes fixated on the luminous layers of Dao patterns flickering like an ocean of flames in the void. The sight was both awe-inspiring and intimidating, giving Little Black a feeling of immense danger.

The final part of ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’. I’ve mastered it at last.

Wu Yuan thought, feeling the Dao patterns integrate perfectly into his flesh and blood.

An involuntary smile crept across his face. Zhu Shan, I finally match you in terms of foundation.

He mused, a gleam of determination in his eyes.

Now, with complete mastery of ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’, Wu Yuan could wield base-level Astral Monarch mana with a mere thought.

He raised his hand, examining his jade-white palm traced with intricate patterns that harbored a power capable of shaking the heavens and earth. With just a flick, worlds could be obliterated—this was the might of an Astral Monarch. This was the pinnacle of what High Immortals and High Deities could achieve.

This is the limit.

Wu Yuan pondered silently.

As mortal beings, whether through arcane arts, supreme burst secret arts, ether, or methods like Beast Fusion, the ultimate goal remains to amplify mana and ether power.

Base-level Astral Monarch mana represents a shackle set by heaven and earth, the ceiling for mortal power.

It could not be transcended, just as a High Immortal's lifebound flying swords could only be upgraded to high-grade celestial artifacts. It was bound by the same constraints, dictated by the rules.

At this moment, Wu Yuan's body refiner self had ascended to the zenith of this stage of the path. Even when employing ether arts, Beast Fusion, or other techniques, he found no further increase in his ether power. It was a limit that could not be surpassed.

Unless, I cultivate the Primordial Technique! Another path to eternity.

The layer of hazy azure light appeared once more around Wu Yuan's body. The flickering light made his vital aura, which had already reached its limit, show signs of breaking through again.

How strange! The singularity of eternity means that once a true self comprehends one Great Dao, they cannot comprehend other Great Daos.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

In theory, the path of matter also leads to eternity. If eternity is singular and unique, why is the power of Daos and Laws compatible with the path of matter?

This was something Wu Yuan could not understand. If they were compatible, even if Overlords didn't know about it, wouldn't the supreme beings know? Why hadn't knowledge of such a path spread? Moreover, why hadn't the Primordial Doctrine appeared in the dozens of previous Megaverse Crossroads?

What makes the Primordial Doctrine so special?

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly. He couldn't figure it out. This iteration of the Megaverse Crossroads was filled with unusual and puzzling elements.

Never mind. At least I've achieved my breakthrough.

There was a hint of fighting spirit in Wu Yuan's eyes.

My comprehension of the Great Dao of Creation has advanced to the second-level Dao Field stage, and I’ve fully mastered ‘Creation Saint Prohibition’.

If I only had a ten percent chance of defeating Zhu Shan originally, I now have a thirty to forty percent chance. However, I don't know if Zhu Shan has made any breakthroughs.

Wu Yuan thought to himself, then stopped thinking about it and continued cultivating.

Four days remained. Although the effect of the Chaos Origin Spring had weakened by more than half, it shouldn't be wasted.

...

Wu Yuan achieved a major breakthrough with the help of the Chaos Origin Spring. The other thirty-nine geniuses were all extraordinarily talented as well, and many also made clear progress or even underwent transformations.

In another mysterious location.

Zhu Shan, clad in black robes and possessing an unremarkable face, sat above a similar tranquil lake. Around him, streams of five-colored light swirled.

At the center of this dazzling display, a massive vortex formed, and at its core, Zhu Shan sat in meditation. The vortex's outer layers shimmered in brilliant hues, but as it spiraled inward, the colors deepened into an impenetrable darkness that seemed to swallow even the faintest hint of light.

Five elements cycle.

Zhu Shan murmured, his tightly shut eyes fluttering open to reveal a smile.

Hum~

The vibrant lights contracted toward him, layer by layer, like a colossal ocean collapsing into itself. In an instant, the entire array vanished into the emptiness at the heart of the vortex.

Fourth-level Dao Field stage, mid-stage Sovereign comprehension.

Zhu Shan muttered to himself.

After fifty thousand years of stagnation, I’ve finally made a breakthrough in The Great Convergence technique.

At the Sovereign level, each step forward was akin to scaling a heaven. Throughout the long history of the megaverse, countless Supreme Geniuses had emerged, yet most stopped at the early-stage Sovereign level of comprehension. Among them, fewer than one in a thousand ever attained mid-stage Sovereign comprehension while still mortal.

Yet today, after just two hundred thousand years of cultivation, Zhu Shan had silently crossed this threshold.

Too many paths scatter the heart. Ultimately, one can only pursue a single course.

Zhu Shan mused, his gaze steady and assured.

By adhering to the Great Dao of Five Elements, I will ascend to the supreme level without relying on other methods.

His self-assurance was unshakeable.

...

Ten days slipped by in the blink of an eye. On the viewing platform, spectators remained unaware of the Chaos Origin spiritual liquid's transformative effects. The Supreme Geniuses who had been eliminated were oblivious to the opportunity they had missed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Abruptly, Wu Yuan, Zhu Shan, Inconstance, and other Supreme Geniuses materialized back on the plaza.

"They're back," murmured the crowd.

"Ten days have passed."

"Why do their auras seem different?" Observers on the viewing platform exchanged curious glances, noticing the subtle shifts.

Wu Yuan, Zhu Shan, Li Guang, and the other geniuses sensed the changes in one another, recognizing that many had made progress. Nevertheless, each Supreme Genius retained an unwavering confidence.

"Good," the white-robed Heavenly Domain Emissary intoned from above. "Many have grown stronger. Let us proceed without delay to the first battle of the fifth round."

He waved his hand, and in an instant, two Supreme Geniuses transformed into streaks of light, entering the battlefield set within the grotto-heaven.

"Zhu Shan versus Zhuo Haiyue?"

"How unfortunate for Zhuo Haiyue." The first match-up instantly sparked a wave of discussion.

Wu Yuan, Inconstance, Bai Shui, and other participants shared a moment of stunned silence.

Zhu Shan! Except for Wu Yuan, who held a touch of confidence, the rest of the Supreme Geniuses would only feel a wave of despair wash over them when facing Zhu Shan. Meeting him almost guaranteed defeat.

Zhuo Haiyue was remarkably strong, her prowess suggesting she could easily rank among the top ten, particularly given her youth. By all accounts, she embodied extreme potential. Yet here she was, pitted against Zhu Shan in only the fifth round.

Could it be due to the supreme being’s aura imprint?

Wu Yuan mused, a slight frown creasing his brow.

Zhuo Haiyue's strength was born from relentless hard work, but it was undeniable that her status as a Supreme Genius in under thirty thousand years was largely thanks to the supreme aura imprint. Perhaps, in the eyes of the Heavenly Domain Emissary, she didn't possess the kind of potential displayed by Wu Yuan or Zhu Shan.

Can Zhuo Haiyue win?

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, hoping that she could advance further. But given that her opponent was Zhu Shan, he couldn’t say he was confident in her chances.

...

Suddenly, a series of thunderous booms echoed as Zhu Shan and Zhuo Haiyue clashed within the grotto-heaven.

"Kill!" Zhuo Haiyue cried, her eyes narrowing. Lightning sharp as throwing knives blanketed the battlefield in a storm, aiming to engulf Zhu Shan.

From the moment she struck, her terrifying strength was laid bare, surpassing even her previous displays.

It appears that ten days of cultivating with the spiritual liquid have bolstered Zhuo Haiyue's power.

Wu Yuan noted. But upon turning to Zhu Shan, his eyes widened.

Zhu Shan... this!

Zhu Shan had unleashed his power, responding to Zhuo Haiyue's relentless assault with devastating force. His nine palms moved in unison, resembling mountains and seas, shattering Zhuo Haiyue's attacks effortlessly. The sheer force of his strikes was overwhelming, the battle rapidly turning one-sided.

As Zhu Shan stepped forward, it was as if the heavens and earth were crumbling, his punch tearing through the entire world.

Zhuo Haiyue was forced to retreat, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and awe at the difference in power between them.

Yet, Zhuo Haiyue's spirit remained unbroken. Gritting her teeth, she let out a fierce roar, "Kill!"

Whoosh!

Hundreds of thunder knives howled through the air once more, morphing into lightning dragons that lunged at Zhu Shan. She refused to concede. If she was destined to lose, she would do so fighting, embodying the indomitable spirit shared by many Supreme Geniuses.

"Surrender," a voice as clear and resonant as a bell rang out, reverberating through the heavens and the earth. It was Zhu Shan, advancing with unparalleled ferocity. No matter the arcane art or lightning strikes, his fists and palms shattered them all, dispersing them into nothingness.

Such was his might—an embodiment of a god, capable of making even every genius quiver in awe and look up to him.

Boom!

One punch sliced through the void, seemingly fracturing the heavens themselves, as Zhuo Haiyue was forced to retreat with the speed of lightning.

Bang~

The air detonated with a terrifying aftershock.

Zhuo Haiyue was defeated, her journey ending in the fifth round of the second trial.

...

Whoosh!

Zhu Shan materialized back in the plaza. The thirty-plus geniuses around him were dead silent.

These Supreme Geniuses, each with their own boundless talents, were now crushed under the weight of despair. They had known Zhu Shan was powerful. They had seen his strength and believed they understood its limits.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Yet, this battle, where Zhu Shan effortlessly overpowered Zhuo Haiyue, unveiled a truth they had failed to grasp: they had underestimated him. Completely. Zhu Shan wasn't merely strong; he was a force beyond their wildest expectations.

On the viewing platform, chaos erupted.

"Too terrifying.”

"Zhu Shan! Zhu Shan! This is a true powerhouse, a true Supreme Genius." Voices rose, awestruck.

"No need for the Primordial Technique... who can withstand Zhu Shan's punches and palm strikes?" The geniuses were left in amazement.

At their core, living beings revered strength. These gathered geniuses, known for their exceptional talents and unwavering convictions, found themselves in profound admiration of Zhu Shan.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as a new announcement pierced the charged air.

"The second battle is about to begin."

"It's Wu Yuan versus Inconstance!! Heavens! How could it be these two?"