Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 770: Wu Yuan's Predicament (2)

This realm fell into complete silence as over ten thousand powerhouses gazed at the pill-refining cauldrons before them, heated with roaring flames.

Everyone felt a heavy pressure weighing down their hearts.

The most powerful among them, those who had obtained two or three Black Devil Tokens in the first trial, now found themselves lacking in confidence. After all, this was not a test of combat prowess.

Though all the powerhouses were isolated in separate spaces, they were not restricted from communicating with each other.

"Archimmortal Li Shu," Wu Yuan transmitted his voice. "This second trial can only be passed with individual strength. We cannot help each other."

"Mm, I understand," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted back. "According to the intelligence gathered by my Hanging Moon Palace, the second trial is held in eleven locations. The content of the trials is the same. The codex left behind by Sovereign Black Devil is called the 'Black Devil Secret Codex', and it's considered a top-tier codex on pill refining, equipment forging, talisman crafting, and array formation."

"Daoist Ming Jian, your cultivation years are brief. I fear your understanding of these minor cultivation paths is not deep. You must study and deduce the 'Black Devil Secret Codex' extensively," Archimmortal Li Shu transmitted.

"Mm, thank you for the reminder," Wu Yuan transmitted in reply.

With a flicker of thought, his Soul Will delved deep into the three immortal slips, silently receiving the inheritances.

Indeed, it was as Archimmortal Li Shu had said. The three immortal slips actually originated from the same codex, the 'Black Devil Secret Codex'.

The entire codex was divided into five chapters, covering various aspects including pill refining, equipment forging, and array formation.

These three immortal slips each contained part one of a chapter. [1]

Such profound and mysterious pill-refining teachings. Wu Yuan immersed himself in the inheritance as soon as he received it.

Though it was only part one, it was truly worth millions of years of study for many Astral Monarchs.

...

Excellent. I am an Astral Lord of Space, and have researched talisman cultivation deeply. Though my mastery of pill refining and equipment forging are somewhat lacking, all paths are interconnected. With a bit of studying, I believe I have a good chance of passing the trial. Astral Lord Gu Shou was full of confidence.

Ming Jian? Astral Lord Gu Shou glanced at Wu Yuan. His Dao comprehension level is very high, but I bet he's never studied pill refining and the like.

...

Pill refining is my forte. Let’s see just how difficult this second trial is. Astral Lord Xue Yao was filled with determination.

I've been stuck at this level for countless years. My spirit is on the verge of decay. Sovereign Black Devil's inheritance is my last chance to become an Astral Monarch. I must obtain it.

These Astral Lords, with their high Dao comprehension levels and long years of cultivation, naturally had more confidence.

This trial also gave them some hope of finally being able to contend with Wu Yuan, that monstrous prodigy.

...

It’s true. I have indeed never studied pill refining, equipment forging, or talisman cultivation. But my Dao comprehension level is likely the highest among everyone here. Wu Yuan was equally confident.

Moreover, I have two true selves... Both true selves can comprehend simultaneously.

I have already crystallized the True Intents of both the Great Dao of Spacetime and the Great Dao of Creation.

With such a top-down view, as long as I expend some effort in studying these paths, my progress will surely be extremely rapid.

His starting point was the lowest, his foundation practically zero. But Wu Yuan believed his progress would be incredibly fast.

...

The second trial was held in eleven trial grounds.

Hundreds of thousands of Archimmortals and Archdeities began to study and comprehend the 'Black Devil Secret Codex', then examine their passing requirements.

In the Dao Realm, within a vast hall at the Hundred Mysteries Palace headquarters, over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities gathered.

These Archimmortals and Archdeities had been temporarily brought here by several Astral Monarchs from various parts of the Hundred Mysteries Palace's territory.

They waited quietly, with several Astral Monarchs emanating powerful auras standing on both sides of the hall.

Whoosh~ A figure wreathed in black flames suddenly appeared. His aura was vast and unfathomable, enveloping the entire temple and completely overshadowing the auras of the Astral Monarchs.

"Greetings, Palace Master," the four Astral Monarchs bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with reverence.

"Palace Master."

"Greetings, Palace Master."

The eyes of over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities in the hall were filled with excitement and reverence at the sight of the great Palace Master.

The Hundred Mysteries Palace was presided over by two Sovereigns. One was Sovereign Lan Yan, who rarely managed the affairs of the Hundred Mysteries Palace.

The other was Sovereign Bai Xuan, also the Palace Master of the Hundred Mysteries Palace. The faction was named after him. [2]

In the past, most of these Archimmortals and Archdeities were merely ordinary members of the Hundred Mysteries Palace. Even the few Astral Lord powerhouses didn't have the qualifications to meet Sovereign Bai Xuan.

"I've never seen a Sovereign before."

"One billion years ago, when I was conferred the title of Astral Lord, I, along with many other Astral Lords, had the chance to pay respects to the Sovereign once. Since then, I've never seen the Sovereign again."

"Even the Sovereign attaches great importance to Black Devil’s inheritance.” The eyes of over a thousand Hundred Mysteries Palace powerhouses were blazing with reverence.

Most of them had grown up hearing legends of the Hundred Mysteries Palace Master, much like how people of Huaxia grew up hearing tales of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. [3]

"I heard that you 1300-odd individuals have been transported into the Black Devil Blood Hollow," Sovereign Bai Xuan's voice was mellow, his features obscured by the black flames. "This is a great opportunity for you.

Sovereign Black Devil was an immensely powerful Sovereign, his strength surpassing my own. The inheritance he left behind is invaluably precious. But now, only you are qualified to compete for it. This will be your chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step." Sovereign Bai Xuan spoke slowly. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Over a thousand Archimmortals and Archdeities listened attentively.

"I have learned that the second trial assesses your mastery of pill refining, talisman crafting, equipment forging, and so on," Sovereign Bai Xuan looked down upon them. "Therefore, I will personally lecture you.

I will explain various methods once every ten years, in hopes of aiding you in obtaining the inheritance," Sovereign Bai Xuan said slowly.

At this, the Archimmortals and Archdeities and four Astral Monarchs were shocked. The Sovereign was going to lecture them personally? How incredibly rare!

Over countless years, the Sovereign mostly just gave pointers, rarely lecturing others personally, including his direct disciples. The thousand-plus Archimmortals and Archdeities were naturally over the moon.

"I hope you will not disappoint my expectations. If you obtain Sovereign Black Devil's inheritance, you will certainly become an Astral Monarch, and may even have the chance to become a Sovereign," Sovereign Bai Xuan said.

"Today, I will first explain pill refining..."

"The Sovereign is lecturing us personally?"

"This..." These Archimmortals and Archdeities listened eagerly to every word.

...

The first trial tested one's personal strength. Thus even though the higher-ups of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm received the news, they could only watch.

But when the second trial began, the higher-ups of many factions in the Dao Realm took action.

Some ordered Astral Monarchs under their command who excelled in pill refining, equipment forging, and talisman crafting to lecture and guide the true selves of some Astral Lords, helping them comprehend the 'Black Devil Secret Codex' and then proceed with refining. Some Sovereigns decided to lecture the candidates from their factions personally.

Such resources and treatment were beyond the reach of many Devil Realm powerhouses. After all, Devil Realm powerhouses had fewer inheritances and lacked guidance from predecessors.

The number of powerhouses from the nine major factions of the Dao Realm totaled just over ten thousand, less than one-tenth of all candidates. But in the eyes of the higher-ups of these factions, cultivators from the Dao Realm would have an absolute advantage in the second trial.

If it were the inheritance of an ordinary Sovereign, perhaps the Sovereigns of the nine major factions in the Dao Realm wouldn't treat it so seriously. But the implications of Sovereign Black Devil’s past were too serious.

Many Dao Realm Sovereigns who had once been enemies with Sovereign Black Devil came to a conclusion: if they couldn't prevent Sovereign Black Devil's inheritance from emerging, then they should try to be the one to control it.

...

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self and mana body were participating in the trial together, and connection to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm was lost when he entered the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

Moreover, even if he had access to the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, so what? As a member of the Spacetime Island, no Sovereign would guide him.

Even Sovereign Lan Yan, who was closest to him, most likely wouldn't help him, given that she was a member of the Hundred Mysteries Palace.

He could only rely on himself.

But Wu Yuan's advantage was that his two true selves shared consciousness, memories, and perceptions.

In the distant Greenridge Macrocosm.

After learning of the second trial, Wu Yuan's body refiner self immediately left the Summerpeak World and headed to the Cang Feng Continent to seek an audience with Sovereign Kua Chi.

In the Cang Feng Continent, within the Eldritch Sovereign Temple.

"Master, the situation is as follows," Wu Yuan quickly recounted his experiences, from him first obtaining the Black Devil Star, to the emergence of the Black Devil Blood Hollow. He only omitted the information regarding the Ancestral Pagoda.

Finally, Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Master, I am determined to obtain Sovereign Black Devil's inheritance. I hope Master can help me."

"Sovereign Black Devil's inheritance? Such an opportunity emerged in the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Sovereign Kua Chi was quite surprised, then nodded. "That's right, among those participating, only you are a member of the Spacetime Island. I fear even the Spacetime Island isn’t paying this matter much attention, let alone other major factions in the river of space and time."

Before Wu Yuan had brought it up, Sovereign Kua Chi was unaware of this matter. After all, the river of space and time was vast and boundless. Similar Sovereign inheritances would occasionally emerge, and the Spacetime Dao Realm was relatively isolated, so news naturally didn't spread easily. He wouldn't usually pay much attention to such things.

"Sovereign Black Devil was an incredibly powerful Sovereign. Though I've never seen him, I've heard tales," Sovereign Kua Chi said gravely. "I suspect that before his fall, his strength had reached the level of an Overlord."

"An Overlord?" Wu Yuan held his breath.

After everything he had experienced, his perspective had broadened, and he understood the special nature of Overlords.

Among Sovereigns, only the truly elite could be called Overlords. They were but a single step away from the supreme level.

"Of course, this is merely my conjecture. Sovereign Black Devil was slain by the Spacetime Dao Master long ago," Sovereign Kua Chi said. "Regardless, this is a great opportunity for you. Naturally, I shall assist you with all my power. Come with me."

Sovereign Kua Chi waved his hand, and an invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, whisking him away from the temple.

Space warped and shifted. When his surroundings solidified, Wu Yuan found himself within an enormous hall.

Inside the hall stood a massive pill-refining furnace, the fires blazing. Surrounding the furnace were numerous floating spatial vortexes, each emanating dense spiritual qi.

"Where are we?" Wu Yuan asked, slightly startled.

"This is the highest-grade pill-refining ground in the entire eldritch world," Sovereign Kua Chi explained. "These spatial vortexes lead to various spirit realms which nurture vast quantities of spirit herbs and spirit beasts. Whatever raw materials you need can be swiftly obtained.

Now then, I shall instruct you in the art of pill refining!" Sovereign Kua Chi said with a smile.

"Master, you?" Wu Yuan was dumbfounded.

"What? You don’t trust me?" Sovereign Kua Chi glanced at Wu Yuan. "When it comes to pill refining, if I claim second place in the eldritch world, no one dares claim first place."

Wu Yuan grew increasingly astonished.

"In the future, your pill refining skills will naturally surpass mine," Sovereign Kua Chi's eyes held a glimmer of anticipation. "The Great Dao of Creation is indeed most compatible with pill refining.

However, your current foundation is still too weak. We must proceed step by step," Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head slightly.

1. eg. chapter 1, part 1 ☜

2. Bai Xuan = Hundred Mysteries ☜

3. 华夏 (Huáxià) is an ancient name for China and its civilization. 华夏人 (Huáxià rén): This term refers to Chinese people or people of Chinese descent.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (三皇五帝) are legendary rulers of ancient China who are credited with creating Chinese civilization. They are said to have lived in the period before China's first verifiable dynasty, the Xia Dynasty.

The Three Sovereigns (三皇) typically refer to:

Fuxi (伏羲)

Nüwa (女娲)

Shennong (神农)

The Five Emperors (五帝) usually include:

Yellow Emperor (黄帝)

Zhuanxu (颛顼)

Emperor Ku (帝喾)

Emperor Yao (尧)

Emperor Shun (舜) ☜