Chapter 943: The Immortal Court's Pursuit (1)

The coverage of the Immortal Court Voidrealm extended across the entire megaverse, reaching all but a few special regions. However, linking super powerhouses across different universes consumed an immense quantity of energy. As a result, only late-stage Sovereigns typically had access to such privileges.

Sovereign Xiong Guang only held contact privileges within the scope of the Long Shan Universe. Nevertheless, the intelligence database was shared.

Within the Immortal Court Voidrealm was a mysterious plane dominated by a single colossal orb of light floating in the void. At first glance, the orb resembled a human brain that seemed to hold infinite wisdom, its surface shimmering with flowing radiance.

Whoosh~

There was an invisible ripple through space, and Sovereign Xiong Guang materialized beneath the luminous orb.

"Esteemed Sovereign Xiong Guang." A gentle voice echoed through heaven and earth: "What intelligence do you seek?"

"Not long ago, my ether body encountered a Supreme Astral Monarch in the Creation Dao Realm's Heavenly Wolf Mountain. We engaged in battle... And I was ultimately forced to retreat," Sovereign Xiong Guang admitted his defeat without hesitation.

He understood clearly that the luminous orb before him was the core operating spirit of the entire Immortal Court Voidrealm and was privy to myriad secrets.

Legend had it that this spirit controlled all intelligence gathered since the Immortal Court's establishment, spanning countless samsara cycles of heaven and earth. If Sovereign Xiong Guang wished to accurately filter out intelligence on that mysterious Supreme Astral Monarch, he could not lie.

"Can you provide detailed battle scene memories?" The orb transmitted the message.

"Certainly." Sovereign Xiong Guang nodded.

With a thought, a projection appeared beside Sovereign Xiong Guang, displaying his battle with Wu Yuan. It showed Wu Yuan's initial escape, the activation of the array, their clashes and collisions, up until Sovereign Xiong Guang's flight. Then, the projection ended.

"He excels in the Creation Great Dao. His Dao comprehension level is unclear, but should be between the second-level and sixth-level Dao Field stage," Sovereign Xiong Guang said. "His artifacts are formidable, likely all high-grade Dao Instruments."

The projection could only simulate battle imagery, unable to reveal specific profundities of the Dao, so Sovereign Xiong Guang's description was needed as corroboration.

"Very well, Sovereign Xiong Guang, please wait a moment while I search the Long Shan Universe's Astral Monarch database," the gentle voice transmitted from the orb. "Three, two, one.

“Sovereign Xiong Guang, please observe."

Whoosh!

Instantly, summarized information on numerous powerhouses appeared on the massive orb, totaling one hundred. Each powerhouse's name, deeds, battle records, weapons, secret arts, and various other aspects were described.

"The highest match is only fifty-four percent?" Sovereign Xiong Guang frowned slightly. "Bright River Sect's Astral Monarch Xing Ma?"

Powerhouses could easily alter their appearances, so looks held only reference value. Their battle techniques and artifacts were the true identifying factors. The so-called match rate compared intelligence across various aspects to select the most fitting candidate. A mere fifty percent match was quite low.

"Astral Monarch Xing Ma is a body refiner with a first-degree immortal root. He comprehended the Creation Great Dao to the Dao Field stage over a hundred million years ago, and has mastered the Law of True Domain, excelling in movement skills. His preferred weapon is the saber," the orb transmitted. "He has escaped from a Sovereign’s clutches more than once... and has been in secluded cultivation for hundreds of millions of years without making an appearance.

“The second highest match...

“The third highest match..." The orb described each one, providing its reasoning.

The top ten matches were all powerful Astral Monarchs from the Long Shan Universe who had comprehended the Creation Great Dao to the Dao Field stage. Such powerful Astral Monarchs were rare in a single macrocosm, but across an entire universe, there were quite a few.

"No, that's not right! None of them fit." Sovereign Xiong Guang shook his head. "Not one of these Astral Monarchs can be called a Supreme Astral Monarch. They don't have Apotheosis roots. Even if they obtained some great fortuitous encounters, their chances of breaking through are very low.

“The Astral Monarch I encountered definitely had an Apotheosis root," Sovereign Xiong Guang stated with absolute certainty.

"I understand. That's why the highest match among these individuals is only slightly over fifty percent," the orb transmitted. "Within the Long Shan Universe, there is only one publicly known figure who has comprehended the Creation Great Dao and possesses Supreme Astral Monarch strength, but he is a qi refiner."

Sovereign Xiong Guang frowned. A qi refiner? This was a fundamental difference, immediately ruling him out.

After a moment's hesitation, Sovereign Xiong Guang said solemnly, "I want to compare the target’s profile against the Astral Monarch powerhouse database of the entire megaverse."

"The megaverse powerhouse database?" The voice from the orb responded. "This will consume immortal merits."

"Mm, deduct it from my account," Sovereign Xiong Guang replied without hesitation. He had provoked an enemy who could spot him at a glance even though he was hidden. If he didn't investigate him thoroughly, Sovereign Xiong Guang would feel uneasy.

Enemies weren't frightening; what was truly terrifying was not knowing who your enemy was.

"One moment." This time, it took much longer, a full breath.

Whoosh!

The vast array of information was instantly updated. Again, there were profiles for one hundred powerhouses, but the content was entirely different.

"Highest match, ninety-two percent?" Sovereign Xiong Guang's eyes lit up.

Generally speaking, a seventy percent match rate was considered a relatively high probability of accuracy.

"Top match, the Immortal Court's Astral Monarch Qiu Zuo?" Sovereign Xiong Guang was stunned.

This was a Supreme Astral Monarch with Sovereign-level combat power, an Overlord's disciple. Everything else matched closely, except that he wasn't particularly skilled in the Law of Space.

Eliminated!

“If it were Astral Monarch Qiu Zuo, there'd be no need to hide his identity from me." Sovereign Xiong Guang immediately looked to the second candidate.

Match rate: eighty-eight percent.

But Sovereign Xiong Guang was taken aback, a glimmer flashing in his eyes: "Wu Yuan?"

"The Eldritch Court's peerless genius, Wu Yuan, a Saintcrest Prodigy who has cultivated for merely thirty thousand years. Intelligence from the Megaverse Crossroads indicates he excels in the Creation Great Dao, with comprehension likely at the third or fourth-level Dao Field stage. He also has some attainments in the Law of Space," the orb displayed the information. "His weapon of choice is also the saber, and his lifebound eldritch beast is a Teng Snake. When fighting all-out, he sprouts wings..."

Each description matched.

"It's him! It must be Wu Yuan." A voice in Sovereign Xiong Guang's heart insisted.

His conviction was understandable, given how perfectly everything aligned. The key point was that no matter how he had inquired, that mysterious blue-robed Astral Monarch had refused to reveal his background, as if harboring a guilty conscience.

"There are two main points of doubt preventing the match rate from exceeding ninety percent," the orb's message continued. "First, Wu Yuan's cultivation time is short, making his breakthrough to Astral Monarch improbable. We have no confirmed reports of his advancement to Astral Monarch."

News of Wu Yuan's breakthrough to Astral Monarch had spread within the Myriad River Realm. But what sort of place was the Myriad River Realm? It was the core of the Eldritch Court's Ling Jiang Saintdom, guarded with utmost secrecy. Even if some late-stage Sovereigns disapproved of Wu Yuan, they wouldn't easily leak such information.

"Second, if his ether body was battling you, he shouldn't have been carrying so many high-grade Dao Instruments; but if it was his true self, he should have had one or two hidden Xiantian artifacts. Given his combat power with high-grade Dao Instruments alone, he should be capable of barely wielding a Xiantian artifact. Once he deploys a Xiantian artifact, he could potentially slay you." The orb transmitted.

"One or two Xiantian artifacts?" Sovereign Xiong Guang's eyes instantly turned feverish.

He had cultivated for hundreds of millions of years, yet possessed only a few high-grade Dao Instruments in total. Yet a youngster who'd cultivated for mere tens of thousands of years potentially had multiple Xiantian artifacts?

"He obtained at least one Xiantian artifact after claiming a Saintcrest in the Megaverse Crossroads," the orb continued. "The Eldritch Court should also bestow one, though it's uncertain if they have done so yet. Therefore, Wu Yuan possesses at least one Xiantian artifact, and potentially up to three."

One? Three? Either scenario was enough to drive Sovereigns mad with desire.

"Of course, all of this is predicated on the assumption that this mysterious Astral Monarch is indeed Wu Yuan, and that it was his true self who ventured here," the orb continued to transmit. "If it was merely his ether body, it's unlikely he would have carried Xiantian artifacts."

"I understand." Sovereign Xiong Guang's mind was already churning with various thoughts and ideas.

"Sovereign Xiong Guang, do you have any further questions?" The orb continued. "Additionally, given the gravity of the matter, I will report this portion of intelligence you've provided to the Overlords.

“Should any great merits arise from this intelligence in the future, it will be credited to you. At the same time, do you wish for your name to be mentioned?"

Within the Immortal Court, crucial intelligence would certainly be transmitted directly to higher echelons. However, the supreme beings had also decreed that if an intelligence provider wished to remain anonymous, their wishes would be respected.

The ability to gain merits while maintaining secrecy encouraged future providers to offer intelligence continually, thus perpetually improving the intelligence database.

"You may mention it," Sovereign Xiong Guang said frankly. After all, there was nothing worth keeping secret about his battle techniques.

"Very well." Shortly after, Sovereign Xiong Guang departed from this plane.

...

The Immortal Court Voidrealm was vast and boundless, with the Saintdom branch in each universe establishing its own core domain.

In the Immortal Court's Long Shan Voidrealm, there was an enormous plane shrouded in mist, dotted with countless towering halls. This was a gathering place for Sovereigns of the Immortal Court's Long Shan Saintdom.

At the highest reaches of the clouds, a place where most Sovereigns were not qualified to enter, a muscular figure clad in starry robes sat upon a throne formed from swirling clouds. His presence radiated an overwhelming aura of dominance.

Two other figures were also present, each emanating an equally vast and powerful aura. All three were unmistakably Overlords of the Immortal Court's Long Shan Saintdom.

As the pinnacle of sempiternal lifeforms, Overlords were typically the true administrators governing the various Saintdoms.

"I believe you two have received the intelligence," the figure in starry robes spoke slowly. "Wu Yuan of the Eldritch Court is suspected to have broken through to Astral Monarch and appeared in the Creation Dao Realm."