Chapter 984: Taking Over The Full Imprint (1)

In the distant Ling Jiang Universe, within the Greenridge Macrocosm, inside the Ming Jian Realm.

Whoosh~

A wave of magnificent and overwhelming sword intent was suddenly released from the highest point of the Spacetime Sword Hall. This sword intent transcended space, instantly enveloping the vast Ming Jian Realm.

An overwhelming pressure radiated in all directions. The Astral Monarchs who resided in the halls surrounding the Spacetime Sword Hall—whether walking, meditating, or conversing—were immediately forced to their knees, their movements halted and their eyes filled with terror.

As for the nearby Archimmortals and Archdeities? The sheer intensity of the pressure rendered them unconscious in an instant.

And for the few immortal cultivators? There was no need to even mention them.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Fortunately, the Spacetime Sword Hall and the Ming Jian Realm were protected by specialized spacetime barriers. These barriers contained the pressure, preventing it from spreading unchecked. Without them, the immense force could have annihilated countless mortal lives throughout the entire Ming Jian Realm.

"This?"

"What's happening?"

"The pressure is coming from the Sovereign's hall. What's wrong with Sovereign Ming Jian?" The many Astral Monarchs living near the Sword Hall, such as Astral Monarch Silvermist and others, were all filled with terror.

This pressure was too strong. Even late-stage Astral Monarch powerhouses couldn't lift their heads, let alone walk or fly.

Without hesitation, these Astral Monarchs immediately sent messages to other Sovereigns. Soon, Sovereign Bei You, Sovereign Heng Yang, Sovereign Zhen Guang, Sovereign Zhu Yue, and others arrived.

Apart from Sovereign Bei You, the true selves of the other three great Sovereigns all resided in the Ming Jian Realm, naturally having access rights.

As for Sovereign Bei You, his authority was second only to Ming Jian's in the entire Ming Jian Realm.

"This! This?"

"What is this overwhelming pressure?"

"Even late-stage Astral Monarch powerhouses can only kneel on the ground?" After arriving, the four Sovereigns were shocked by what they observed. They swiftly relocated all the nearby Archimmortals, Archdeities, and Astral Monarchs from the vicinity elsewhere. Then, they gathered outside the Spacetime Sword Hall.

The closer they got to the Spacetime Sword Hall, the greater the pressure. Soon, they arrived at the gates of the hall.

"Such frightening pressure." Sovereign Zhen Guang's eyes flashed with a hint of fear. "Even I can barely withstand it."

The expressions of the others changed. In terms of strength, Sovereign Zhen Guang was the weakest among them. Even so, he was still a Sovereign!

"Bei You, can you contact Ming Jian?" Sovereign Heng Yang asked: "We've tried sending messages, but we can't reach him."

"No, there's no response." Sovereign Bei You shook his head slightly: "The surrounding spacetime has been completely isolated. Ming Jian's attainments in Spacetime are higher than mine; I can't force my way in."

The Sovereigns looked at each other.

Whoosh~

Suddenly, countless shadows converged, forming a figure shrouded in black robes.

"Overlord."

"Greetings, Overlord." Sovereign Bei You, Sovereign Heng Yang, and the others bowed.

Overlord Xin Ya’s incarnation had arrived.

"Heng Yang, Zhen Guang, Zhu Yue, you should return for now. Remember, do not leak any information about what’s happening here," Overlord Xin Ya instructed.

"Yes."

"Let's go." The three Sovereigns quickly departed, leaving only Sovereign Bei You and Overlord Xin Ya.

"It's an eternal Dao resonance," Overlord Xin Ya slowly spoke. "Ming Jian is likely practicing some extremely special secret art, or has reached a crucial moment in his cultivation where he can no longer spare any attention to the outside world."

"Eternal Dao resonance?" Sovereign Bei You held his breath, naturally understanding what this meant.

"Moreover, I immediately inquired with Overlord Hou Jue of the Eldritch Court to check on the status of Ming Jian's body refiner self," Overlord Xin Ya said in a low voice. "But the True Saint told me that his body refiner self is lost in the Creation Dao Realm, and has been out of contact for thousands of years."

"What?" Sovereign Bei You was taken aback; he had no prior knowledge of this matter.

Wu Yuan’s body refiner self was uncontactable, and now his qi refiner self was in this situation?

"The only certainty we have through the Taiyuan Voidrealm is that he's still alive," Overlord Xin Ya said quietly. "All we can do now is wait. When it comes to Spacetime mastery, he reigns supreme in the Greenridge Macrocosm. No one can step into the Spacetime Sword Hall to uncover his true situation."

"Mm." Sovereign Bei You nodded slightly, looking at the distant hall that was still emanating terrifying sword intent and pressure.

Soon after, Sovereign Kua Chi also received news from Sovereign Bei You. He was also filled with worry and shock.

...

Within the Spacetime Sword Hall, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self had entered an unusual state.

His consciousness had completely withdrawn, severing his awareness of the outside world.

The black pagoda's aura. The imprint.

Wu Yuan's entire focus turned inward, but he had already lost control. Not long ago, terrifying fluctuations had erupted from the once-calm black pagoda and Samsara Sword.

Having absorbed the essence of numerous high-grade Dao Instrument flying swords, the Samsara Sword had partially materialized in reality. Its aura surged, unleashing vast waves of sword intent that clashed violently against the black pagoda. In response, the black pagoda erupted with endless blood-red light. The two divine artifacts locked in an intense confrontation.

Boom!

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, caught between the two, attempted to suppress them with his powerful Yuan Soul, only to find the task overwhelmingly difficult. Both artifacts appeared to be agitated.

The sword intent of the Samsara Sword is growing stronger.

Wu Yuan immediately noticed this.

The black pagoda’s power is retreating.

He was no longer the weak cultivator of the past. Now a Sovereign with an Apotheosis Yuan Soul, his qi refiner self possessed an immensely powerful soul—standing near the pinnacle of sempiternal existence, just a step away from the Overlords.

That final step was not a matter of foundation but the Dao comprehension. If Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self could further his Dao comprehension, his breakthrough would be inevitable.

With his formidable Yuan Soul, Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self could perceive the transformations occurring within his body. Though he couldn't fully control the divine artifacts, he wasn’t entirely helpless.

What’s happening? Is it my body refiner self? Has something triggered this?

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self quickly realized that the imprints of both artifacts were shifting—one growing stronger, the other weaker. This wasn’t just an internal struggle; an external force was driving the change. That force originated from his body refiner self.

The Samsara Sword’s imprint within my body refiner self must be weakening, while the black pagoda’s imprint is likely strengthening. Are the imprints of the divine artifacts from both true selves converging?

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self deduced.

What exactly is my body refiner self experiencing?

He had no answer.

But he had no choice. This was a passive transformation, beyond his control. All he could do was endure it—and attempt to rein in the Samsara Sword, which was becoming ever more powerful and real.

As its imprint intensified, the sword intent it released grew even more terrifying.

...

Time flowed relentlessly, and in the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed.

“The sword intent... it’s growing stronger.”

Outside the Spacetime Sword Hall, the four Sovereigns standing guard all sensed the change.

Boom!

As if crossing a critical threshold, the already overwhelming sword intent suddenly erupted, its intensity soaring to a whole new level. It thundered outward in all directions, sending shockwaves rippling through space. The sheer force of it caused the expressions of the four Sovereigns to shift dramatically.

"I can't withstand this pressure anymore!"

"Neither can I."

The relatively weaker Sovereign Zhen Guang and Sovereign Zhu Yue could no longer hold their ground. Without hesitation, they retreated from the Spacetime Sword Hall, forced to concede to the crushing force.

Only Sovereign Bei You and Sovereign Heng Yang remained.

"This level of pressure...?"

Overlord Xin Ya had rushed back upon hearing the news, and what he sensed left him shaken. "I rarely encounter anything like this, even among Overlords. This feels close to the descent of an eternal existence’s true self."

Initially, the pressure emanating from the Spacetime Sword Hall had only been slightly stronger than his burst state at full power. But now? It had grown tenfold.

...

Inside the Spacetime Sword Hall, both Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self and mana body were fully immersed in cultivation. Their bodies radiated sword intent so intense it felt as though reality itself was being cut apart.

The Samsara Sword’s imprint... Thirty percent manifested.

And the black pagoda’s imprint—completely gone!

Within Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self, not a single trace of the black pagoda remained. Only the pure, unrestrained sword intent of the Samsara Sword filled every fiber of his being.

In that moment, Wu Yuan understood.

In the past, the black pagoda and the Samsara Sword had left imprints within both of his true selves, though they exerted varying degrees of strength. The Samsara Sword only unleashed its power in his qi refiner self’s hands, while the black pagoda had been slightly more dominant in his body refiner self. Yet despite these differences, both true selves had always carried a portion of each imprint.

But now, everything had changed.

The special transformation my body refiner self underwent... it caused my qi refiner self to fully inherit the Samsara Sword’s imprint while being completely severed from the black pagoda.

A revelation struck him.

At the same time, my body refiner self must have received the full black pagoda’s imprint.

It must be a very special situation.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self sighed inwardly.

But he had no time to dwell on it. He had neither the energy nor the capacity to concern himself with his body refiner self now.

Now that the imprint is no longer shared, the Samsara Sword has recovered thirty percent of its power.

The moment he received the full Samsara Sword imprint, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self received a message transmitted from the Samsara Sword.

Previously, even after absorbing a vast number of high-grade Dao Instrument flying swords, the Samsara Sword had only recovered just over ten percent of its power. However, inheriting the imprint in its entirety had instantly elevated its power to thirty percent.

Thirty percent, seventy percent, one hundred percent are the three major thresholds in the Samsara Sword's recovery or manifestation process.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self learned.

Reaching each threshold will allow the power of the Samsara Sword's Dao resonance to make a great leap, and breaking through these three thresholds isn't something that can be achieved simply by absorbing the essence of high-grade Dao Instrument flying swords. There must be some qualitative change.

Taking over the full imprint allowed the Samsara Sword's power to recover to thirty percent. But to reach seventy percent?

That's still far off. Let's talk about it when we're close to reaching the second threshold.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self tried to control the Samsara Sword.

The Samsara Sword had become much more powerful, and without the black pagoda's restraint, it also became harder to control.

Just thirty percent of its Dao resonance is already so difficult to control? If it were to recover to one hundred percent, truly manifesting in the external world, how incredibly powerful would it be?

This thought flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.

He quickly dismissed the idea, instead feeling a surge of anticipation.

Previously, when only just over ten percent of its true Dao resonance was restored, it already imbued his lifebound flying swords with immense power.

Now that it had reached thirty percent, leaping by a major level, what heights would his strength reach once he mastered it?

...

"The sword intent is receding."

"It's finally starting to calm down."

"It’s taking a long time to weaken."

"Ming Jian's vital aura is still relatively stable." Sovereign Bei You and Overlord Xin Ya both felt their suspended hearts settle a bit.

Though they still didn't know the situation of Wu Yuan's body refiner self, at least his qi refiner self seemed to be out of immediate danger.