Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 457: I Will Await You In The Divine Court Headquarters (1)

"Disciple, if you trust your master, then do not take Astral Monarch Su Qing as your master." There was a hint of a smile on High Immortal Nan Yin’s face.

Wu Yuan's expression was calm as he nodded, "Yes, I will follow Master's decision."

It would be a lie to say he didn’t feel the least bit disappointed. After all, this was an existence that shook the entire immortal nation. If he could become his disciple, it would be equivalent to gaining an unrivaled backer.

But given the bond they had built up over the years, Wu Yuan had deep trust in his master. He believed his master wouldn't harm him.

"Foolish boy," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan and chuckled. "Don't worry, there are some things I can't tell you now, but in the future, your master will not disappoint you."

"In time, you will understand that you made the right choice today."

"Understood." Wu Yuan felt slightly reassured. He had great faith in his master.

"The Bloodforge Battle is about to begin," High Immortal Nan Yin looked at Wu Yuan. "It should only be a month away. Does your qi refiner self plan to participate?"

"Qi refiner self?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

"The Bloodforge Devil Hall's territory is much smaller and the number of beings under its rule is limited. Thus the standard of its geniuses is significantly lower than that of our Eternal Sun Immortal World." said High Immortal Nan Yin.

"Someone like you would rank around the top twenty or thirty challengers of the one-star tower within the Silvermist Immortal Nation. But among geniuses under a hundred years old in the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, you would likely rank in the top ten, if not the top five in terms of Dao comprehension level alone," High Immortal Nan Yin said.

Wu Yuan nodded lightly.

Indeed! After years of sparring, Wu Yuan realized that the overall strength of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was almost certainly weaker than the Eternal Sun Immortal World. At least, the Redmoon Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was much weaker than the Redmoon Immortal Hall.

Of course, it was still a dozen times stronger than other factions like the Dragon Star Immortal Sect or the Zhuo Family. It was only weak in comparison to the entire Redmoon Immortal Hall.

Similarly, the Silvermist Division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall was inferior to the Silvermist Immortal Nation whether in terms of the number of geniuses or experts in its ranks.

"But Master," Wu Yuan was puzzled. "There are no age restrictions for participating in the Bloodforge Battle. Thus there are some Golden Core geniuses in the Bloodforge Devil Hall who have been cultivating for over a hundred years."

"Haha, those in the true top-tier of peerless geniuses won't stay in the Golden Core phase for that long," High Immortal Nan Yin shook his head with a smile. "Like Zhuo Haiyue, who entered the Amethyst Cradle phase before a hundred years old. Your qi refiner self will probably enter the Amethyst Cradle phase at sixty or seventy."

"Someone who is talented enough won't remain stagnant at the Golden Core phase for long, but will instead break through quickly. With a stronger soul, one’s Dao comprehension speed will also increase," High Immortal Nan Yin said softly.

"Those peerless geniuses who can grasp a Dao Field in just a few hundred years wouldn't stay at the Golden Core phase for long. So, those who have been cultivating for two to three hundred years at the Golden Core phase are limited in strength. At most, they will only be slightly stronger than you are now."

Wu Yuan couldn't help but nod.

"Few true geniuses of the Silvermist Immortal Nation will actually choose to participate, probably less than twenty percent," High Immortal Nan Yin said.

"There will likely be a batch that has reached the ninth-level True Intent stage (Lesser Law) in Dao comprehension. But those at the Dao Field level? There might not be more than five."

"I estimate that if your qi refiner self participates, you will rank very high in the Bloodforge Battle. As long as you don't encounter a monstrous prodigy who has comprehended a Dao Field, you will be fine," High Immortal Nan Yin said.

Wu Yuan listened carefully.

This was in line with his own expectations. His master's acuity was as sharp as ever.

"So, if you want to participate, I won't stop you," High Immortal Nan Yin said. "That is the territory of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, and many Astral Lords of the devil hall will be watching. No one will play dirty tricks."

"Whether you go or not, the choice is yours," High Immortal Nan Yin said, "If you want to go, I will send in your application to the Redmoon Immortal Hall. There's still a month left, it’s plenty of time."

He awaited Wu Yuan's answer.

"No!" Wu Yuan shook his head lightly, "Master, if it’s up to me, I don't even want my body refiner self to participate. Yes, the Bloodforge Battle poses little danger to me, but it is too bloody and brutal. Among the billions of Golden Core and Spiritual Body cultivators participating, over ninety-nine percent will fall!

“Honestly, I don't want to go through that," a trace of killing intent flashed in Wu Yuan's eyes, "But my body refiner self has no choice. I must carve a path of survival."

Wu Yuan never considered himself a good person, but he had his own moral standards and bottom lines. He killed when necessary, but he rarely killed indiscriminately.

Wu Yuan inherently felt some resistance to participating in the Bloodforge Battle, but his body refiner self had no choice.

Hearing Wu Yuan's explanation, High Immortal Nan Yin could not help but smile.

"Furthermore," Wu Yuan continued, "In terms of overall strength, my body refiner self is slightly stronger than my qi refiner self. If any significant opportunities arise, my body refiner self should seize them. If I fail to obtain anything, then it’s just fate."

High Immortal Nan Yin nodded lightly. "Alright, since you have come to a decision, I won't force you."

"The Bloodforge Battle will last for two years. During these two years, stay within the sect and try not to go out. Just wait patiently for the Moonsilver Tournament to begin," High Immortal Nan Yin said.

"You are not far from the ninth-stage Golden Core phase. Take this time to reflect and review your insights deeply. After the Moonsilver Tournament ends in seven years, you should advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

After watching his master leave, Wu Yuan returned to the meditation chamber in the sky city. With a thought, he sent out two threads of consciousness, one into the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm and the other into the Dragon Star Immortal Voidrealm.

In an instant, more than a thousand messages flooded in, ninety-nine percent of which were congratulatory messages. Most were from friends within the sect.

Over the years, with Wu Yuan's rapid rise in power and status, the old grudges between himself and other hereditary disciples who challenged him when he first entered the sect had long dissipated.

All of Wu Yuan’s peers now regarded him as a friend, treating him warmly. Bei Hua and Gong Ling were now very courteous whenever they encountered Wu Yuan in the voidrealm.

In addition to the messages from numerous friends, there were also congratulatory messages from several Earth Immortals and High Immortal elders.

However, one particular message stood out.

"Zhuo Haiyue?" A wisp of a smile appeared on Wu Yuan’s face.

The reason he challenged the one-star tower this time was in no small part due to her provocation.

With a thought, he sent a reply to Zhuo Haiyue. As expected, only a few breaths later, he received another message from her.

In such a hurry to see me? Curiosity flashed through Wu Yuan’s mind as he quickly headed to Zhuo Star City in the Redmoon Immortal Voidrealm.

Though separated by billions of li in reality, it took him but an instant to arrive at his destination in the voidrealm.

With great familiarity, Wu Yuan arrived at Zhuo Haiyue's residence where a steward was already waiting at the door.

Along the way, all the servants respectfully saluted him, but there was something different in their eyes when they looked at Wu Yuan.

"Is that?"

"Li Xia."

"The peerless genius from the Dragon Star Immortal Sect?"

"Yes! It’s said his talent is comparable to Her Highness." These servants, immortal cultivators at the Golden Core phase, whispered among themselves.

Though only a short time had gone by, Wu Yuan's name had already spread far and wide.

Soon, he came to a pavilion where Zhuo Haiyue was already waiting with a table of delicacies prepared.

"Haiyue, long time no see," Wu Yuan said with a smile.

"Sit," Zhuo Haiyue smiled.

Wu Yuan sat down. They treated each other like old friends reunited after a long time, without any formalities.

"I bet you heard quite a few people talk about you along the way," Zhuo Haiyue teased with a smile.

"They all say I’m the only genius on this immortal continent that comes close to you, but I’m still not quite at your level." Wu Yuan replied with a chuckle.

"That’s because you’re still young. People tend to venerate the past and disparage the present"," Zhuo Haiyue said wistfully. "When I was your age, I wasn't nearly as impressive."

That was the truth.

"A brief spark doesn’t mean much; consistent growth is far more important," Wu Yuan said, smiling. "Haiyue, let’s not beat around the bush. You were eager to see me, what’s the matter?"

"Then I'll be straightforward." Zhuo Haiyue smiled. "I’ll be leaving the immortal continent in three days."

"Leaving the immortal continent?" Wu Yuan was startled. "To visit your master's place?"

Wu Yuan knew Zhuo Haiyue was a nominal disciple of an Astral Monarch.

"Yes, I’ll be following my master, but not to his domain," Zhuo Haiyue said. "Instead, we're going to the Eternal Sun Immortal World."

"The immortal world?" Wu Yuan's pupils contracted.

The vast territory governed by the Eternal Sun Immortal World overlapped with countless spacetimes, seemingly boundless.

The Redmoon Immortal Continent, strictly speaking, was also part of the Eternal Sun Immortal World’s territory.

However, when immortal cultivators spoke of the Eternal Sun Immortal World, they were usually only referring to the core region that was enveloped by its essence.

It was also one of the core regions of the entire Greenridge Macrocosm.

"The immortal world is just a transit point. After staying there for a few years, my master will bring me to the divine court headquarters at the other end of the river of space and time," Zhuo Haiyue said softly. "I estimate it will take thousands or tens of thousands of years before I return."

"Of course, if I perish on the path of cultivation, I will never return," Zhuo Haiyue added with a slight smile, sipping her wine.

Wu Yuan was inwardly shocked.

"Divine court headquarters? The legendary place where the True Saint resides?" Wu Yuan couldn't help asking.

"Indeed," Zhuo Haiyue nodded slowly. "Whether it is the Eternal Sun Immortal World or the Bloodforge Devil Hall, they are merely small factions under the divine court. There are countless worlds in the river of space and time, but the influence of the divine court spreads across many of these spacetime macrocosms."

"It is one of the top forces in the river of space and time!"

Wu Yuan listened intently.

He had only a hazy comprehension of the boundless river of space and time, a concept that felt too remote and abstract. The Taiyuan Divine Court headquarters? That was even further beyond his grasp. It was only when he took oaths or journeyed through the lands, observing the Faith of countless beings, that he would momentarily think of it.

"Will going to the divine court headquarters benefit your cultivation?" Wu Yuan couldn't resist asking.

"Haha, Li Xia, it seems you truly do not understand," Zhuo Haiyue burst into laughter. "Well, it makes sense. You are under the tutelage of an Archimmortal, but I fear there are many things no one will share with you."

"The divine court headquarters is not fixed in one place but exists in a higher order of spacetime. Places like the Seven Star Luminaries Tower we challenge, or the Dao Temple we visit for Dao comprehension simulations, are all projections by the divine court across many macrocosms," Zhuo Haiyue explained. "Their source is none other than the divine court headquarters."

Wu Yuan felt a sense of awe along with a slight epiphany.

"The divine court headquarters is incredibly wondrous. For instance, the Bloodforge Battles by the Bloodforge Devil Hall—it's rumored that the venue of the ultimate opportunity selection is not located within the Bloodforge Devil World, but instead somewhere controlled by the divine court headquarters," Zhuo Haiyue shook his head. "Of course, that's just a legend; the truth is unknown."

Not within the Bloodforge Devil World? Wu Yuan noted silently.

Perhaps his talent and reputation were approaching Zhuo Haiyue's, but in terms of perspective and knowledge, he had to admit that he was still far behind.

But that didn't matter.

"The divine court headquarters is a sacred land for cultivation," Zhuo Haiyue said. "At various points in time, the divine court will summon countless geniuses born from its many subordinate forces."

"Of course, the timing is not fixed. And unless one is a peerless genius, one will not be summoned."

"Your talent, even if not as strong as mine, is not far off," Zhuo Haiyue looked at Wu Yuan. "Our talents are considered exceptional even within the entire Eternal Sun Immortal World, the top of our era."