Chapter 934: The Limit Of An Astral Monarch (2)

"Has the hall master broken through?"

"Has he become an Astral Monarch?" The three Astral Monarchs in the hall complex, along with numerous guards and servants, were all astonished and shocked when Wu Yuan appeared.

Their astonishment stemmed from their clear understanding of Wu Yuan's brief cultivation period – merely thirty thousand years.

These guards and servants assigned by the Saintdom had not expected Wu Yuan to choose to break through so quickly. In their minds, Wu Yuan should have continued cultivating at the High Eldritch phase for several hundred thousand years at least.

Their shock was from the overwhelming vital aura emanating from Wu Yuan, which far surpassed that of the three Astral Monarchs dispatched to serve him.

…

Time flowed on.

Wu Yuan occasionally met with Sovereign powerhouses who came to visit him, forging more friendships. Naturally, news of his breakthrough to Astral Monarch spread rapidly throughout the Myriad River Realm.

"Wu Yuan has broken through?"

"It must be true. Several Sovereigns who visited him sensed the change in his vital aura. There's no mistaking it."

"How long has he been cultivating? To choose to break through so quickly, without spending more time at the High Eldritch phase?" The numerous Sovereigns in the Saintdom discussed fervently, many expressing confusion.

"Perhaps it's due to the external influence of discussions ever since he entered the Myriad River Realm."

"If he broke through because of such minor pressure, that would be quite the unwise decision."

"His comprehension of the Great Dao rivals that of Sovereigns, yet he's only become an Astral Monarch. This shows he hasn't fully comprehended a Greater Law. What use is breaking through to Astral Monarch? Could he possibly possess late-stage Sovereign combat power?" One Sovereign sneered.

"No matter how much of a monstrous prodigy he is, he's only cultivated for tens of thousands of years. It would be impressive enough if he could reach the threshold of Sovereign-level power." The Sovereigns debated amongst themselves.

Even those Sovereigns who originally supported Wu Yuan were reluctant to speak up for him, feeling that this breakthrough was rather unwise. They believed he could have waited until he fully comprehended a Greater Law before breaking through.

…

In the hall complex where Wu Yuan resided.

They're discussing my breakthrough? They all think I made the wrong decision?

Wu Yuan stood in the void of his meditation chamber.

He had received numerous messages over this period. Many of his close associates like Master Kua Chi and Sovereign Cang Feng had come to inquire about him as well.

Wu Yuan was also aware of some of the criticisms he was facing, but he didn't feel that these late-stage Sovereign powerhouses were simply making trouble out of nothing. Rather, it was about rules! Only those with late-stage Sovereign strength could reside in the Myriad River Realm—this had been the rule of the Saintdom for billions of years. Wu Yuan had broken this precedent.

Perhaps, after spending fifty thousand or a hundred thousand years, I might have had the chance to break through directly to Sovereign.

Wu Yuan shook his head inwardly.

But unfortunately, I'm unwilling to wait.

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan gripped a jet-black saber in his palm. The saber emitted a hazy, vast aura that faintly enveloped Wu Yuan, granting him a noble air.

Activate!

With a thought from Wu Yuan, the surging vital ether from his internal world instantly rushed into the saber.

Almost simultaneously, Wu Yuan’s immense and boundless physical strength also erupted. After reconstruction, the flesh and other matter within his body were like miniature worlds, each containing vast power. His flesh, muscles, and bones exploded with power, like worlds stacking upon worlds, bursting forth in a thunderous instant!

Ether and physical strength combined in an attempt to activate the Black Rock Saber.

It was heavy! Incredibly heavy!

While Wu Yuan could easily move the Black Rock Saber if he wished, trying to activate its Dao essence was a thousand or ten thousand times more difficult. Before breaking through to Astral Monarch, Wu Yuan had never succeeded.

This was his first attempt as an Astral Monarch.

Boom!

The saber swung with a thunderous roar, a terrifying blade ray instantly slicing through billions of li, shattering layer upon layer of space, appearing extremely ferocious.

Hum~

Silently, surging power poured in, rapidly repairing the shattered and quaking void.

The meditation chamber spanning more than a hundred million li was specially constructed for Sovereigns. Its protective arrays were extremely sturdy, and even late-stage Sovereign-level attacks would fail to penetrate them.

Infinitely profound. After so many years of contemplation, I can finally barely wield this Xiantian artifact. Such power?

Wu Yuan held his breath as he gazed at the void being repaired, truly realizing the fearsome might of Xiantian artifacts. If Wu Yuan's previous attacks were at the early-stage Sovereign level, they had now skyrocketed several fold.

I can barely activate it, let alone conceal the Xiantian artifact's aura.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

I need to continue contemplating. Now is not the time for practical combat.

The Dao essence of the Black Rock Saber didn't seem complex at first glance to Wu Yuan, but truly attempting to comprehend it revealed its profoundness.

His execution of this saber strike was like a child wielding a hundred-catty great saber. Bringing it down with all his might naturally produced terrifying power. But he could only release, not retract. It would be difficult to attempt a second strike in a short time.

If I could truly achieve basic mastery, this single strike should leave only a line in the void.

Wu Yuan pondered.

And others wouldn't be able to detect anything special about the saber.

Only at that level could one claim to be able to wield a Xiantian artifact. Now? He was far from it!

Furthermore, my extraordinary physical strength withstood most of the Xiantian artifact's pressure.

Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

If I relied solely on vital ether? I fear I couldn't even swing this saber once.

Wu Yuan had to admit he had underestimated Xiantian artifacts. Even supreme beings said they could only fully wield Xiantian artifacts after becoming Sovereigns. It wasn't without reason. Their Dao essence was too strong, their power too terrifying; one had to be strong enough to have any hope of activating them.

In terms of raw explosive power, I'm at the absolute peak among Astral Monarchs. Even those with Apotheosis roots can't match me.

Wu Yuan mused.

In terms of Dao comprehension, I'm at the Sovereign level, but it's still barely enough.

When wielding weapons and artifacts, if one's Dao comprehension level was high enough, they would consume far less mana. If one's mana capacity was large enough, then the Dao comprehension requirements were also lower. Wu Yuan was fairly decent in both aspects, but still fell short of activating a Xiantian artifact.

The Black Rock Saber is probably a relatively common Xiantian artifact, yet it's so difficult for me to activate?

As Wu Yuan pondered this, a thought came to mind.

Boom!

Instantly, piece after piece of azure armor appeared on the surface of Wu Yuan's body. In the blink of an eye, a complete set of armor fully covered his entire body, causing his aura to surge.

I can't move at all!

Wu Yuan gritted his teeth, his physical strength and vital ether straining to their limits to activate the armor.

Bang~

As Wu Yuan took a single step, the void seemed to tremble. He felt as if he were a boy dragging a thousand-catty weight, moving forward with extreme difficulty. The fourteen components united to form the Azure Origin Armor, but trying to activate it was incredibly challenging.

Combat? If I were to use the Azure Origin Armor, I'd be like a turtle in its shell, standing motionless. Perhaps even a Sovereign would find it difficult to kill me.

Wu Yuan muttered to himself.

But I wouldn't be able to fight either.

If he could barely move, it would be equivalent to waiting for death in a life-or-death battle.

Whoosh!

With a thought, Wu Yuan put away the Azure Origin Armor. It was like a great burden had been lifted, and his entire body felt much lighter.

I’ll remain at the Astral Monarch phase in the short term. When my Dao comprehension deepens, I’ll have hope of truly activating the Black Rock Saber.

Wu Yuan pondered.

But to activate the Azure Origin Armor? It'll probably have to wait until I become a Sovereign.

…

After putting away the Xiantian artifacts, Wu Yuan devoted a fraction of his attention to studying the Black Rock Saber.

Then, Wu Yuan took out the numerous high-grade Dao Instruments he had acquired during the Megaverse Crossroads and began sorting through them one by one. He kept the useful ones and set aside those that were useless.

Wu Yuan pondered.

Sabers, armor, wings... I need a complete set of high-grade Dao Instruments for my true self, and another set for my mana body. I should also prepare multiple sets of mid-grade Dao Instruments.

Although Wu Yuan was only an Astral Monarch now, he could unleash a large fraction of the power of high-grade Dao Instruments. The sets of mid-grade Dao Instruments for his mana body were a precaution in case it perished. He organized everything meticulously.

A slightly translucent azure saber materialized in Wu Yuan's palm. It was the Hundred Stars Saber, which had accompanied his body refiner self through countless battles.

Years ago, Wu Yuan obtained it from the treasure trove left behind by Astral Monarch Wan Lei in exchange for swearing an oath. However, Wu Yuan had grown too quickly, and now it seemed rather unremarkable among his possessions.

I once swore an oath to avenge Astral Monarch Wan Lei.

Wu Yuan murmured softly.

Today, we'll see which fellow from the Voltari Temple it is.

Oaths, like promises, were karmic debts that had to be repaid.

With a thunderous rumble, streams of vital ether coursed into the Hundred Stars Saber's Dao essence, forcefully making its way deep inside. After a moment of careful probing, Wu Yuan gained complete control over the Hundred Stars Saber, coming into contact with the seal deep within the saber's Dao essence.

This seal had been established by Astral Monarch Wan Lei. Future generations who obtained the saber could attempt to loosen and eventually break it over time, releasing the Hundred Stars Saber's power bit by bit.

Once, Wu Yuan couldn't breach the seal no matter how hard he tried. Now? Even if Astral Monarch Wan Lei were to be resurrected, he would be no match for Wu Yuan, let alone a seal he had created.

Soon, Wu Yuan broke the seal, and a flood of information surged into his mind. Most of it concerned Astral Monarch Wan Lei's insights on using the Hundred Stars Saber. Eventually, Wu Yuan found what he was looking for — the name of his enemy!

Sovereign Shi Qing?

Wu Yuan muttered to himself. A faint, almost imperceptible ripple immediately passed through the Destiny Voidscape, transmitted to the depths of the River of Destiny.

Karma had been set in motion.

…

In the distant Greenridge Macrocosm, within the spacetime territory of the Voltari Temple, was a vast domain.

Hmm?

Inside a temple, Sovereign Shi Qing, who had been lecturing to numerous disciples, suddenly paused. He lifted his head, his gaze filled with surprise and suspicion as he stared into the void, as if sensing an immense threat.

"Master?"

"What's wrong?" The group of disciples in the hall exchanged bewildered glances, though none dared to inquire further. Sovereign Shi Qing was notorious for his strictness.

Karma? A great threat? Who could it be?

Sovereign Shi Qing muttered to himself.

Why has such great karma suddenly manifested, and it’s a matter of life or death?

A hint of trepidation lurked in his heart, yet he couldn't pinpoint the source of the danger. This was because Wu Yuan and Sovereign Shi Qing had never truly met, so the karmic connection between them wasn't particularly strong.

…

Hundreds of years had passed since the end of the Megaverse Crossroads, and Wu Yuan's two true selves had been in seclusion for centuries.

On this day, in the Myriad River Realm.

Overlord Hou Jue's hall basked in endless multi-colored light. Directly beneath the hall was the source of a river.

Whoosh!

A streak of light, moving against the mighty current, swiftly arrived before the majestic hall. Inside, several Astral Monarchs stood guard — all mana bodies. They were members of the Overlord's personal guard.

The light descended.

"Astral Monarch Wu Yuan?"

"Greetings, Astral Monarch Wu Yuan!" These guard Astral Monarchs bowed slightly in salute, a flicker of surprise passing through their minds as they sensed Wu Yuan's aura.

Seeing is believing. Though they were all Astral Monarchs, a single glance was enough for them to realize they were no match for Wu Yuan.

"I request an audience with the Overlord," Wu Yuan stated.