Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 631: First-Degree Eldritch Root (3)

Whichever path we choose, it will be incredibly difficult to traverse, with a high probability of leading to death or a dead end.

However, in the workings of heaven and earth, there is always a glimmer of hope. Sitting idly and awaiting death is the true path to doom. Imperial Majesty Da Yan's eyelids lowered slightly. For now, my priority is to fully recover from my injuries.

Had Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu fought to the death without retreating in their recent battle, there was a seventy percent chance that Imperial Majesty Da Yan would have perished, given the High Eldritch's tremendous vitality.

However, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu was unaware of Imperial Majesty Da Yan's true capabilities and dared not risk it. Having already sustained injuries, he naturally chose to withdraw.

...

The Third Eldritch-Immortal War concluded with two major battles: the Battle of the Earth Archeldritch tribe and the Battle of Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

The eldritch race achieved an unprecedented great victory, reversing the trend of their long-standing decline.

This war, which lasted nearly a hundred years, inflicted enormous losses on the eldritch race, but their gains were equally substantial. Not only did they completely eradicate the numerous immortal cities established by the immortal race outside Heavenly Pillar Mountain, but they also slaughtered over sixty percent of the immortal race's population and core territories in one fell swoop.

And through these two great battles, the names ‘Eldritch Deity Hou Feng’ and ‘Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu’ spread across the entirety of Huanggu.

"Eldritch Deity Hou Feng is undoubtedly the greatest genius in our eldritch race's history, becoming an Eldritch Deity after just a few hundred years of cultivation."

"But I heard he's only an Eldritch General?"

"Nonsense, he's clearly an Eldritch Deity."

"Eldritch Deity Hou Feng may have great talent, but Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu is truly our eldritch race's number one powerhouse. Even at Heavenly Pillar Mountain, he could face an Imperial Majesty of the immortal race without being killed."

"They're both peak powerhouses of our eldritch race."

"Given more time, our eldritch race will surely breach Heavenly Pillar Mountain and exterminate the immortal race." Countless eldritch race powerhouses and members sang their praises, spread their deeds, and worshiped them.

After much discussion, the four Archeldritch tribes of the eldritch race determined a strategy to protect Hou Feng until he stepped into the Earth Eldritch level.

Three Eldritch Deities now resided permanently within the Earth Archeldritch tribe.

It was worth noting that there were only six Eldritch Deities in the entire eldritch race, excluding the Snake Progenitor.

Of course, the highest echelons of the eldritch race did not disturb Wu Yuan as he cultivated.

...

Within a meditation chamber in the Archeldritch Hall.

The profundities of Life. Wu Yuan sat in lotus position, fully immersed in comprehending the True Intent of life.

As his understanding deepened, various insights began to converge within his internal shambhala without conscious effort.

For qi refiners, the Voidspace was fundamental, with their amethyst cradle being merely a projection of the Voidspace. The amethyst cradle could not sustain living beings.

The body refiner system was different. A body refiner opened a realm within the body that operated like an independent world, but was rejected by the true heaven and earth, making it difficult for one to perceive the heavens and earth above.

Even now, Wu Yuan's body refiner self, despite developing a Yuan Soul, could only vaguely perceive the Destiny Voidscape and Faith power. The internal shambhala was the core.

Life True Intent. The essence of the vast and magnificent internal shambhala spanning ninety thousand li within Wu Yuan's body was undergoing a continuous transformation.

The essence of the Celestial Body Dao was continuously evolving towards the essence of the Life Dao.

As the Dao reflected heaven and earth, the stronger one's comprehension of the Dao, the more powerful the internal shambhala would be, with a more vigorous essence.

For instance, why was it so difficult for some Universe Architect body refiners to become Archeldritches or Archdeities? It was because their internal shambhala essence was too weak, their Dao comprehension too shallow.

Meanwhile, some body refiners had incredibly powerful internal shambhalas, so once they underwent refinement via the Ninth Immortal Tribulation, they could swiftly create vast true worlds, leaping to the level of Astral Monarchs or Sovereigns.

When initially opening his shambhala, Wu Yuan had constructed it with the Law of Celestial Body at its core.

The Law of Celestial Body and the Law of Life were of the same lineage, and as shambhala had yet to turn into a completely real world, the evolution naturally took place rapidly.

However, the process of driving the evolution of the internal shambhala's essence was rather slow. Of course, Wu Yuan was patient, as he was laying his foundation.

Moreover, he only devoted a portion of his mental energy to this, with the vast majority of his attention continuing to deduce the Law of Life.

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed.

It's finally complete. Wu Yuan sensed that the essence of his internal shambhala was now entirely constructed from the Law of Life.

This essence had become quite profound, and the entire world seemed to brim with the vibrancy of life.

Just as the evolution of his shambhala's essence was completed, the vast and magnificent internal world suddenly trembled. Massive waves of vital ether began surging towards the four corners of the shambhala.

Boom! The Boundary Tree, towering a thousand li between heaven and earth, also began to shake, starting to grow rapidly.

Rumble! The entire internal shambhala began to expand in all directions.

An intangible barrier was broken.

Is the body refiner self's second-degree eldritch root about to transform into a first-degree eldritch root? Wu Yuan pondered, somewhat incredulous.

It was already beginning to transform?

Previously, Wu Yuan had been somewhat concerned about his body refiner self's immortal root. After all, according to Master Kua Chi, the further one progressed along the path of cultivation, the more difficult it became to upgrade one’s immortal root.

It was relatively easy during the Elysian Field phase, but once one crossed into the Earth Eldritch level, it would become much more challenging.

What Wu Yuan hadn't anticipated was that he would break through so silently and effortlessly.

First-degree eldritch root!

Is it because I reconstructed the shambhala's essence with the Law of Life, causing the essence to be so powerful that it evolved naturally? Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

It was like a building; no matter how much it was renovated, it could never escape its original framework—a three-story building could not be turned into a ten-story one just by adding more levels. Only by rebuilding the foundation from scratch was it possible.

First-degree eldritch root. With a mental command Wu Yuan, vast quantities of ethercrystal poured into his internal shambhala, rapidly transforming into vital ether. It drove the expansion of his internal shambhala at a frenzied pace.

Several days later.

Boom! The internal shambhala expanded to its limit, reaching an astonishing maximum diameter of 160,000 li, far more expansive than before. This was the pinnacle of the Elysian Field phase.

To expand further? Wu Yuan made a slight attempt, only to be met with great resistance. His internal shambhala had reached some limit allowed by the workings of heaven and earth.

There was only one path to break through further: to cross into the Dharma Body phase and become an Earth Eldritch, at which point the internal shambhala would naturally undergo another qualitative change.

The expansion of the internal shambhala would strengthen the physical body, increase vital ether, and improve the efficiency of nurturing the soul.

Most importantly. A powerful shambhala essence can support more grand ether arts. Wu Yuan revealed a slight smile. I can now cultivate a third grand ether art.

Each grand ether art was immensely important. In the recent battle against High Immortal Wu Zong, the reason Wu Yuan could hold out for so long, enabling him to break through mid-fight was partly due to having cultivated ‘Rending The Heavens’.

If he could cultivate another grand ether art, Wu Yuan's strength would surge tremendously once more.

I'll cultivate the 'Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor'. Wu Yuan swiftly selected the ether art from his inheritance memories.

This was an incredibly formidable offensive ether art. It seemed that only one arm was added from the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form to the Nine-Armed Eldritch Progenitor, yet it represented a kind of perfection and ultimate state in the cosmic order. Many powerful killing techniques would be perfected, and even one’s defenses would improve significantly.

With this, I'll have one grand ether art each for defense, movement skill, and offense. These three grand ether arts will cover both attack and defense, allowing me to maximize my strength. Wu Yuan thought to himself, satisfied with this choice.

Of course, making the choice was one thing. To cultivate it to a high level and unleash its full potential would similarly require Wu Yuan to invest considerable effort.

However, having previously cultivated the 'Three-Headed Eight-Armed Form', and with my extremely high Dao comprehension level, mastering the basics shouldn't be difficult. Wu Yuan's mind was tranquil as he continued to study this grand ether art.

...

Wu Yuan's body refiner self made astonishing progress in the mysterious Huanggu World. Meanwhile, across boundless spacetime, within the Immortal Belvedere of the Bei You Realm in the Greenridge Macrocosm.

Life True Intent? Has my body refiner self encountered another great opportunity? Wu Yuan's qi refiner self pondered, his heart trembling with awe.

Though unaware of what his body refiner self had experienced, countless insights into the Life Dao flooded unbidden into his mind the moment his body refiner self had broken through, granting his qi refiner self mastery over Life True Intent.

Wasn’t it a bit too fast?

My qi refiner self's soul is stronger and receives more Faith. Though my Dao Body is somewhat inferior, the cultivation environment in the Immortal Belvedere is excellent. Over these decades, I've received multiple inheritances from the Dao Temple. Wu Yuan's qi refiner self mused inwardly.

Yet surprisingly, his body refiner self's rate of progress was not the slightest bit slower. It had even achieved a breakthrough.

After refining my techniques a little more, I should be able to clear level one hundred of the two-star tower. The thought flashed through Wu Yuan's qi refiner self's mind.