Yuan’s Ascension

"They will choose me?" Wu Yuan asked, slightly startled.

His gaze swept over the distant artifacts: a sword, a sheet of paper, and a black rectangular block. Each radiated an aura of mystery and power that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

As he extended his senses, Wu Yuan felt certain that these three items were unfathomably profound, far surpassing the high-grade Dao Instruments he had encountered.

Not even the Black Devil Blood Hollow or the Devil Subduing Tome had given him such a feeling. Their nature was utterly impenetrable to his perception.

Yet for all their apparent mysteriousness, how would they determine whether one was eligible to be a successor of the Dao Master? Wu Yuan’s brow furrowed in contemplation.

Sensing Wu Yuan’s confusion, Zi Kong's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Most supreme beings, when selecting their successors, leave behind Great Dao imprints and secret arts to help their chosen ones approach the supreme level.

The supreme being backing your body refiner self, though I cannot discern their identity, likely follows a similar approach." the beast explained.

Wu Yuan's eyes widened in surprise. Zi Kong's perceptiveness was remarkable—indeed, as a successor of True Saint Bu Xiu, his core inheritance consisted of a Great Dao imprint and numerous secret arts. True Saint Bu Xiu had bestowed few material treasures like divine crystals or Dao Instruments.

"The Dao Master is different," Zi Kong continued, reverence shining in his ancient eyes. "He is one of the supreme beings who transcended during the most ancient of eras, when all Daos, all Laws, all matter was just coming into existence.

That era is known as the Primordial Era. Even then, the Dao Master stood at the very pinnacle of existence."

Zi Kong's voice took on a wistful quality, "The Eldritch Court, the Immortal Court—none of these had been established yet. Even True Saint Taiyuan of the Taiyuan Divine Court had not yet been born... The Dao Master was the first to master Space and Time, naturally becoming the master of a Great Dao."

Wu Yuan listened in awe, his mind struggling to grasp the sheer scope of what he was hearing. The Primordial Era? The very beginning of all things? It must have been countless samsara cycles of heaven and earth ago, truly befitting the Spacetime Dao Master.

“The Dao Master has seen too much, experienced too much," Zi Kong said, shaking his head. "What monstrous prodigy has he not witnessed? This is why he understands better than anyone the true difficulty of reaching the supreme level. It isn't something that can be reached through Dao comprehension aptitude alone.

Supreme beings could even raise a pig into an Astral Monarch or even a Sovereign if they so wished," Zi Kong stated solemnly.

"Many of their closest friends and family members can be revived even after death... Most are nurtured to become Astral Monarchs, and those with even a hint of talent become Sovereigns.

The Dao Master himself nurtured dozens of his early companions into Sovereigns."

Wu Yuan's breath caught in his throat. Such power was beyond comprehension. Even Overlords weren’t able to raise Sovereigns just like that, let alone Sovereigns.

As he absorbed this information, Wu Yuan's thoughts turned to Zhuo Haiyue, whose cultivation speed also defied common sense. The gap between Sovereigns, Overlords, and supreme beings was truly unfathomable.

To transcend the shackles of heaven and earth, to break free from the fetters of samsara—this is what it means to be supreme. Wu Yuan mused silently, savoring the profound truth of those words.

Any matter that involved supreme beings ceased to be ordinary.

"But what use is it to nurture someone into an Astral Monarch or a Sovereign?" Zi Kong asked rhetorically. "The river of space and time is destroyed and reborn again and again... The cycles of heaven and earth pass like seasons to the Dao Master.

Without becoming supreme, all are like cicadas, unable to survive the cruel winter of samsara."

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly, at a loss for words.

In the eyes of immortal cultivators, the lifespan of those who haven't stepped onto the immortal path is fleeting, like that of cicadas. He reflected. But to supreme beings, even mighty Sovereigns must seem like slightly hardier cicadas. ṞἈꞐỌ𐌱Èș

“Thus, after endless eons, the Dao Master saw through it all.” Zi Kong continued. “Ordinary training methods simply aren’t enough to produce supreme beings.

In truth, even raising Overlords poses some difficulty for supreme beings," the beast explained. "It often requires expending considerable effort, but that is the limit of what can be achieved through nurturing alone.

As for Great Dao imprints, each supreme being can only bestow nine. They are quite precious—obtaining even one would be considered a great fortune for a sempiternal being." Zi Kong's tone grew solemn. "The Dao Master bestowed his Great Dao imprints upon his earliest successors long ago.”

Each supreme being can only bestow nine Great Dao imprints? Wu Yuan marveled silently.

No wonder! He recalled the words of the Creation Emissary, that True Saint Bu Xiu had left behind only nine Great Dao imprints and would accept no more than nine successors. This must be the reason.

With a Great Dao imprint to aid one's cultivation, comprehending even a single Greater Law seemed almost guaranteed, given enough time.

However, according to Zi Kong, the Spacetime Dao Master no longer possessed any Great Dao imprints?

"Senior Zi Kong, how many successors has the Dao Master taken?" Wu Yuan asked curiously.

"Many," Zi Kong replied matter-of-factly. "I have only experienced four samsara cycles of heaven and earth, during which the Dao Master has taken over twenty successors... I don't know about earlier cycles.

However, in this current cycle, the Dao Master has already taken four successors, which is a relatively high frequency compared to previous recent cycles," Zi Kong added.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly. By that reckoning, the Dao Master only chose five or six successors per samsara cycle of heaven and earth? The odds were indeed pitifully low.

"Because he has experienced so much and seen so much," Zi Kong continued, "the Dao Master's method of nurturing successors changed since my birth. Even if you become his successor, you won't receive any additional bestowals—no Great Dao imprint, no secret arts, no Dao Instruments.

You will only receive one chance at revival. And one treasure." Zi Kong gestured towards the objects floating in the distance.

A chance at revival? A treasure? Wu Yuan was stunned.

"Even if you perish after becoming a Sovereign, the Dao Master can manipulate the timeline to revive you," Zi Kong explained with a sigh. "But the Dao Master once said that while reviving a mortal lifeform is easy for him, reviving a Sovereign requires an unimaginable price. So even his successors only get one chance. After all, no one can walk the path of cultivation without making mistakes.

But there won't be a second chance," Zi Kong cautioned. "Any being can only be revived once."

Wu Yuan listened in silence. These secrets were entirely new to him. To think that the Spacetime Dao Master could even revive Sovereigns— even the Sovereigns of the Dao Realm were likely unaware of this fact.

The Dao Master's power was truly beyond comprehension.

"As for these three treasures, some were created by the Dao Master through immeasurable effort," Zi Kong continued.

"Others originated from the depths of the megaverse, naturally born wonders," he said, indicating the three items. "They all hold great secrets. In terms of preciousness, they are a hundred times more valuable than a Great Dao imprint, if not more.

A hundred times more valuable than a Great Dao imprint? Wu Yuan could scarcely believe it.

"Wu Yuan," Zi Kong addressed him directly.

"Your talent is exceptional, and you are nearly perfect in all aspects. Even your Dao Heart and willpower, which are often overlooked by cultivators, are extremely strong," the beast praised. "Even without the Dao Master's inheritance, you would likely have a great chance of becoming an Overlord in the future.

However," he continued gravely. "If you can gain the recognition of any one of these treasures, your chances of stepping into the supreme realm in the future will be at least 10%."

"10%?" Wu Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief.

It sounded low, but in reality, it was terrifyingly high. If news of this were to spread, countless Sovereigns and Overlords would be driven mad with envy. And yet these miraculous objects simply rested here, waiting.

What an opportunity! Wu Yuan's mind raced. Compared to the opportunities in the Immutable Land, the Dao Master's inheritance is even more precious.

Of course, he also understood that without the black pagoda, the Immutable Land, and even the Black Devil Blood Hollow, he would never have reached this point so easily.

Now, he was just one step away.

"Don't be skeptical," Zi Kong said softly. "The Dao Master has nurtured supreme beings before, and more than one at that."

Wu Yuan was shocked. The Spacetime Dao Master had raised more than one supreme being?

Each casual revelation from Senior Zi Kong sent Wu Yuan's head spinning. These incredible secrets had never been hinted at in the world outside, at least not to Wu Yuan's knowledge.

"Don't worry," Zi Kong reassured him, seeing the young man's expression. "If you become the Dao Master's successor, you will naturally come to know these things. If you fail, when you leave the final trial ground, everything you've seen and heard here will vanish. This span of time will be erased from your life's timeline.

Your consciousness, spirit, memories—all of it will revert to the moment before you entered the final trial ground.

Even if you are an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer, you won't be able to prevent this from happening," Zi Kong stated. "This is the power of the Dao Master."

Wu Yuan fell into complete silence.

At this moment, his heart was filled with nothing but awe. The divine abilities of the Dao Master truly exceeded his understanding.

It was like a two-dimensional being trying to comprehend a three-dimensional existence.

The current Wu Yuan could not fathom the Dao Master's ability to manipulate the timeline.

In Wu Yuan's understanding, time flowed like a river, ever forward and irreversible. But clearly, in the Dao Master's eyes, this was not the case.

"Now, go," Zi Kong urged, pointing towards the three distant objects. "Success or failure depends entirely on you."

"Senior, how should I do it?" Wu Yuan asked.

Zi Kong shook its head. "I don't know. Whether you wish to comprehend, touch, or try any other method... as long as you gain acceptance, you will have succeeded."

Wu Yuan took a deep breath.

Understanding that further questions were futile, he stepped forward, striding toward the three objects.

The three mystical items emanated vast and enigmatic auras, each appearing special in its own right. Yet the pressure they exuded was not particularly strong, so they did not impede Wu Yuan's approach.

I'll observe them first. Wu Yuan decided, standing still as he began to carefully examine the items.

He dared not act rashly.

Here we go again. Zi Kong muttered to itself from afar. This Wu Yuan is truly extraordinary.

Two true selves, both with dual Apotheosis soul and root, while comprehending two Great Daos... Such talent is indeed flawless.

By all rights, he should succeed. But I wonder which item he will choose, or rather, which one will accept him. Zi Kong mused silently.

It watched Wu Yuan in the distance with remarkable calm.

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