Chapter 957: Ten Thousand Years Later (2)

"The Fang Family, the prince-rank family?" Wu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "I didn’t notice."

A family established by an Astral Lord - if they were wiped out, so be it. Wu Yuan had no connection to them. Moreover, Wu Yuan knew of Zhuo Haiyue's relationship with the Fang Family. Both her parents had died at their hands.

"When do you plan to break through?" Wu Yuan asked. Zhuo Haiyue had fully comprehended the Law of Thunder.

"There's no rush," Zhuo Haiyue said slowly. "I'll wait a bit longer, until my strength is greater and my chances are better."

"I see." Wu Yuan nodded. Zhuo Haiyue's fate was entangled with that mysterious supreme being, unlike his own smooth path.

"I've caused you trouble though," Zhuo Haiyue suddenly said, her tone apologetic.

"If there's anyone I should blame, it’s Overlord Xin Ya," Wu Yuan smiled. He knew she was referring to the matter of the Thunderforce Bead.

After Wu Yuan's qi refiner self broke through to Sovereign, Overlord Xin Ya had informed him of this.

Wu Yuan didn't mind. In fact, he had gained quite some benefits from the Thunderforce Bead back then.

"A fallen supreme being is like one who has fallen back into the river," Wu Yuan said calmly. "To climb back ashore, they will naturally struggle madly.

“However, while in the river, only through battle can one determine who is stronger."

Zhuo Haiyue couldn't help but look at Wu Yuan, a flash of light passing through her eyes.

She sensed Wu Yuan's unwavering belief in his own strength. Even when facing a supreme being, he could remain composed.

...

Besides Zhuo Haiyue, Wu Yuan also met some old acquaintances, such as Sovereign Lan Yan, Sovereign Hong Yi, and Sovereign Hei Zhen.

The three Sovereign Custodians of the Spacetime Dao Realm had all come, and still addressed him as ‘Young Master’ in private. They were all amazed at how quickly Wu Yuan had broken through.

After catching up with these old friends and sending them off, High Immortal Dong Yang finally arrived.

"Master," Wu Yuan smiled.

"I'm late," High Immortal Dong Yang smiled. "By rights, I should have arrived early, but I spent too long talking with Long Xing and the others. It’s been a long time since we met." [1]

"There's no need to rush, Master," Wu Yuan smiled. His gaze pierced through layers of spacetime, observing the scene unfolding hundreds of light-years away in the Redmoon Immortal Continent.

In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, an equally grand celebration was being held, with Astral Lord Long Xing in the seat of honor.

"Hehe," Astral Lord Long Xing laughed proudly. "I really didn't expect it. Haha, my Dragon Star Immortal Sect has produced a great Sovereign."

He was surrounded by a large group of Archimmortals and Archdeities who had come to offer congratulations.

Ordinary Archimmortals and Archdeities couldn't participate in Wu Yuan's celebration. Astral Lord Long Xing was qualified, but Wu Yuan understood that inviting him would likely make him uncomfortable, so he had him hold a separate celebration at the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

"Oh yes, Master, Archimmortal Huo Gao's true self has been killed by Astral Monarch Silvermist," Wu Yuan informed him.

Archimmortal Huo Gao had once tried to assassinate Wu Yuan years ago.

"Mm, Astral Monarch Silvermist already updated me," High Immortal Dong Yang shook his head and sighed. "And those old enemies from my early years have almost all died out too. I only found out after coming back.

"It’s all due to the formidable deterrent power you possess," High Immortal Dong Yang said, looking at Wu Yuan.

"Being able to resolve Master's worries is this disciple's good fortune," Wu Yuan smiled.

Though High Immortal Dong Yang had shone brightly on the Megaverse Crossroads, he ultimately wasn't a Supreme Genius, not enough to make those Astral Monarchs of the Eternal Sun Immortal World kill their subordinate Archimmortals, which would be tantamount to kneeling and begging for mercy. Most Astral Monarchs were proud beings after all.

But when Wu Yuan broke through to Sovereign in one go, word spread that he was High Immortal Dong Yang's disciple. Thus, many Astral Monarchs quickly took care of matters without him even having to speak up.

"In another hundred years, I plan to break through to Astral Monarch, then return to the Long Shan Universe," High Immortal Dong Yang said.

"The Long Shan Universe?" Wu Yuan was startled.

"Yes," High Immortal Dong Yang nodded. "Originally I was only concerned about you and the sect. Now that both worries are resolved, I should continue to pursue cultivation to the Sovereign phase. Besides, your martial aunt is also in the Long Shan Universe. [2] When she becomes an Astral Monarch in the future, we'll return together."

"Very well, then I wish Master success in advance," Wu Yuan smiled.

Everyone had their own aspirations. Wu Yuan had no reason to stop Master Dong Yang from pursuing his.

...

As the celebration drew to a close, the emissaries from various Saintdoms departed, and the Overlords and numerous Sovereigns of the divine court headquarters gradually left as well.

However, not every Sovereign had come solely to offer congratulations. Some harbored ulterior motives.

"Hidden Sun Bay?" Wu Yuan's mana body smiled at the large man before him, clad in fiery red robes.

The man's aura was majestic, yet he gave off an extremely dangerous, effeminate feeling that was rather bizarre.

"Sovereign Hong Yan," Wu Yuan shook his head. "I've only just broken through. My strength isn't sufficient, I'm afraid I'd only hold you back."

Sovereign Hong Yan was a rather powerful late-stage Sovereign powerhouse of the Taiyuan Divine Court, his strength likely no less than Sovereign Cang Feng's. But according to the intelligence Wu Yuan had, the man was quite treacherous and cunning.

Now, he was inviting Wu Yuan to explore a universe exploration site called the Hidden Sun Bay together with him.

"Brother Ming Jian jests," Sovereign Hong Yan beamed, as if they were true brothers. "To be frank, I obtained a treasure map. It is indeed dangerous, but you are a Sovereign of Space with first-rate self-preservation abilities. If you also bring a Xiantian artifact, your strength would likely be no less than mine, and your survival abilities even stronger. According to the map's guidance, it's likely the treasure trove of a supreme being.

“I've already invited two other Daoists, both with formidable strength. When the time comes, we'll join forces to obtain the treasure, and Brother Ming Jian can have one-third," Sovereign Hong Yan said solemnly.

Left behind by a supreme being? Wu Yuan's mind stirred, pulling up the relevant information. The Hidden Sun Bay was a level two exploration site. In theory, the most dangerous areas there were only lethal to late-stage Sovereign powerhouses. In other words, as long as he was a bit careful, Wu Yuan was unlikely to die given his strength.

But the universe was ever-changing, with many marvels. Intelligence reports were never completely accurate. The so-called level rating of exploration sites was only based on past experience. Historically, there were frequent examples of level four and level three exploration sites suddenly becoming level one sites.

And due to differences in gathered intelligence, the rating of an exploration site's danger level could even vary between different Saintdoms.

"No thank you," Wu Yuan shook his head. "Brother Hong Yan, I’ve only recently made my breakthrough and am at a crucial stage of stabilizing my foundation. I likely won’t be heading out to explore anytime soon."

Seeing Wu Yuan's firm refusal, Sovereign Hong Yan could only take his leave.

An invitation?

Wu Yuan murmured softly after sending him off.

Though Sovereigns of Space are rare, there are still several hundred within the divine court headquarters, and nearly a hundred at the late-stage Sovereign level. Yet he sought me out specifically? And specifically suggested that I bring a Xiantian artifact?

Wu Yuan shook his head.

Treasure trove? I'm afraid I'm the real treasure.

Wu Yuan had no way to verify the truth of Sovereign Hong Yan's words, nor did he care to.

If Wu Yuan really brought a Xiantian artifact to explore and fell into a trap, losing the Xiantian artifact, there would be no way to get it back.

The other party would have many excuses, and wouldn't fear questioning from higher-ups in the divine court headquarters.

Within a macrocosm, a late-stage Sovereign powerhouse with a Xiantian artifact was nearly invincible.

In truth, Sovereign Hong Yan was neither the first nor the last to invite Wu Yuan to go on expeditions. Wu Yuan refused them all.

...

Finally, having sent off all the Sovereigns attending the celebration, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self finally found peace and quiet.

The territory of a hundred immortal nations was now officially under his name, along with over a thousand Astral Monarchs assigned to his command. But Wu Yuan left all these matters for Big Devil, Second Devil and the others to handle. Big Devil, once the steward of the entire Black Devil Blood Hollow, was well-versed in these matters.

In the Ming Jian Realm, within the Spacetime Sword Hall.

Next, I'll strive to fully decipher the two Xiantian artifacts.

Wu Yuan thought to himself.

Then, I can gradually comprehend the Great Dao of Spacetime.

The deeper one's comprehension of the Great Dao of Spacetime, the more powerful their lifebound flying swords would become.

If Wu Yuan were to reach the ninth-level Dao Field stage of Spacetime in the future, upgrading his lifebound flying swords to the pinnacle of high-grade Dao Instruments, then uniting the nine swords would be enough to overpower Xiantian artifacts without needing the Dao resonance of the Samsara Sword.

Now? It wasn't enough yet.

Neither the Xiantian artifacts nor the lifebound flying swords should be used lightly.

Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, sword qi manifesting around his body.

Only when my mana body's combat power reaches the late-stage Sovereign level will I truly have the confidence to traverse the universe freely.

...

Time flowed like water.

As the turmoil surrounding Wu Yuan's qi refiner self's breakthrough subsided, the entire macrocosm gradually returned to tranquility.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The only addition was the Ming Jian Realm, which slowly became a cultivation sanctuary that countless sword cultivators in the Eternal Sun Immortal World aspired to visit.

Ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

...

In the distant Long Shan Universe, within the Creation Dao Realm, at Burial Mountain 36.

On the plaza.

The Creation Dao Master is indeed the master of Creation. The profundities within this stele are simply mind-boggling.

Wu Yuan's body refiner self sat in lotus position before the hundred-meter-wide stele.

He had spent ten thousand years comprehending the profound techniques from the steles of over a thousand Sovereigns and Overlords. Yet, it took Wu Yuan over ten thousand years just to comprehend the first stele left by the Creation Dao Master.

Ten thousand years ago, as soon as Wu Yuan began to study the Dao Master's stele, he realized that his accidental entry into the burial mountain was indeed a great stroke of luck.

The profundities within the first stele of the Dao Master weren't overly complex or profound, merely representing the introductory stage of Creation Dao Field, but they were exactly what Wu Yuan needed, providing foundational guidance.

It appears to be the introductory stage of Creation Dao Field, a level I thought I had fully grasped. But in reality, I hadn't even scratched the surface. The Dao Master provides guidance from a far higher perspective.

During these ten thousand years of comprehension, Wu Yuan's insights collided with those he had gained from studying over a thousand Sovereign and Overlord techniques in the previous ten thousand years. This truly allowed him to undergo a metamorphosis.

Wu Yuan suddenly stood up, his eyes brimming with brilliant light. In his palm, the Black Rock Saber materialized. The next moment, the battle saber moved.

Whoosh!

Silently, a gleam of light cut through the void, containing not a shred of mana nor any Dao fluctuations due to the restrictions within the Burial Mountain.

Yet within this seemingly simple blade ray, there was a unique power, one that seemed to pierce directly into the deepest part of a being's spirit.

The fifth step of the Will of Life and Death — Timeless Existence.

Wu Yuan murmured.

This form wasn't forcefully executed using Xiantian artifacts, but purely through Wu Yuan's comprehension. It also represented that Wu Yuan had reached a new level in the Great Dao of Creation — the fourth-level Dao Field stage!

Finally, in terms of Dao comprehension, I'm almost catching up to my qi refiner self.

It's time to push open that stone door.

Wu Yuan put away his battle saber, his gaze falling on the distant stone door.

1. Long Xing = Dragon Star ☜

2. martial aunt = master’s wife ☜