Yuan’s Ascension

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it had been nearly three years since Wu Yuan advanced to the Divided Soul phase, and the appointed time stated by Immortal Sovereign Bei You was drawing ever closer.

In the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm, Wu Yuan’s qi refiner self appeared out of thin air in his personal hall.

It's been a long time since I last saw Master Kua Chi. Wu Yuan muttered to himself as his gaze fell upon the virtual immortal slips before him.

Without hesitation, Wu Yuan lightly tapped them with his fingertip, and light burst forth from the immortal slips, forming several light screens.

A flood of images rapidly appeared on them. There were many familiar yet unfamiliar scenes, as well as vaguely recognizable figures.

Cloud Capital has already changed so much. The Middle Land looks like this now. A smile unknowingly appeared at the corners of Wu Yuan’s mouth as he watched.

These images revealed the various changes that had occurred in the Summerpeak World over the years.

Finally, the images stopped changing, and the figure of a spirited and valiant woman appeared. She sat quietly on a jade platform.

"Brother! Can you see this? It's been over a hundred years since we last met. I've already become a Golden Core cultivator. During this time, Senior Fang Xia returned once. Mother misses you too, but she knows you're in seclusion, in a crucial moment of cultivation..."

Wu Yuan watched this light screen projection silently, listening to his sister's voice.

"Brother, it's been over two hundred years, and you still haven't returned. I don't know if you can see this recording, but Senior Fang Xia and the others have left again. Bu Yu and Senior Huan Jian have both become Golden Core cultivators. Now there are many Golden Core cultivators in the Middle Land, and the entire Summerpeak has vaguely united as one..."

His sister's voice echoed from the second light screen projection, resounding through the personal hall of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self.

In this projection, Wu Yuan's sister, Wu Yijun, spoke slowly, rambling on and recounting many events from the Middle Land and Summerpeak.

"Brother, you've been gone for three hundred years now. I'm very worried about you. Are you alright? Over these years, Mother often asks how you are faring, but Senior Cen Jiang says not to worry.

Brother, I know cultivation is very important to you. Your strength is what allowed the Summerpeak World and the Middle Land to flourish as they have today. However, if you can watch these recordings, I sometimes wonder if it might be possible for you to come back and visit occasionally. You may become a legendary powerhouse with a lifespan as long as the heavens in the future. I'll be fine, but Mother can only live for a thousand years. She's always worried she won't see you again..."

In the most recent projection, Wu Yijun spoke less about the situation in the Middle Land and Summerpeak, and more about their childhood memories and their mother…

After a long while, the three recordings ended, the light screens reverting back into three virtual immortal slips. Wu Yuan stood there silently, deep in thought.

Wu Yuan wasn't too worried about Fang Xia, Arctic, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and the others in the Middle Land and Summerpeak. He had taken good care of them all.

Before leaving, he had also instructed Cen Jiang to look after them as much as possible, but mostly to let things take their natural course, helping to resolve their troubles and assist in their cultivation when needed.

However, Wu Yuan couldn't help everyone reach the Amethyst Cradle phase or become Void Refiner cultivators. Each person had their own path to walk, depending on their own fortunes and opportunities.

After all, Wu Yuan himself was still moving forward.

But his concern for his sister and his mother never faded.

His consciousness was the fusion of Wu Yuan from the Middle Land and Wu Yuan from the Blue Planet. His feelings for his sister and mother were no less intense than those for his sister on the Blue Planet. They were all people he was willing to protect with his life, from the bottom of his heart.

However, Wu Yuan remained clear-headed. He knew very well that his qi refiner self couldn't go see his mother and sister.

Once he went, the possibility of exposing the truth of his two true selves would be too high. And now was far from the right time to reveal this.

If the Voltari Temple was made aware of this, they would likely go mad, sparing no effort to kill Wu Yuan, perhaps even reporting it to the Immortal Court headquarters.

Before leaving for the Immutable Land, Wu Yuan's body refiner self had set up a system such that any messages from his family would be directly transmitted to the personal hall of his qi refiner self.

No one else knew about this. And his qi refiner self could only view them, unable to send any replies.

Little Yi has done very well. She has her own life, and she's worked hard enough in her cultivation. In the future, she has hope of reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase, or even becoming a Void Refiner… Wu Yuan pondered silently.

The assistance he provided his sister was naturally incomparable.

But what about his mother? Without any aptitude for cultivation, being an ordinary mortal, normal medicinal pills and treasures could only extend a mortal’s lifespan to a thousand years at most. This was the limit under the workings of heaven and earth.

A life of glory, with the Wu Clan prosperous and flourishing, holding an exalted position, free from mortal dangers - one can hardly say Mother is unfortunate. And yet, I've still failed to fulfill my duties as a son... Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

…

Not long after, a man clad in beast hide appeared in his qi refiner self's personal hall within the Cang Feng Eldritch Voidrealm. It was none other than Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi.

"Master," Wu Yuan bowed respectfully.

"This visit is rather sudden. Do you have some matter to discuss?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi smiled and asked, "Or perhaps some good news?"

He didn't ask whether Wu Yuan's body refiner self had returned. If he had, it wouldn't be his qi refiner self coming to see him.

"This disciple indeed has a matter to bring up and wishes to request Master's assistance," Wu Yuan said respectfully.

"Speak," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"I still have no news of my body refiner self whatsoever, and my return remains far off," Wu Yuan said. "Meanwhile, I have received a bestowal from Immortal Sovereign Bei You, and will soon depart for the Spacetime Dao Realm to cultivate..."

"Hold on! You say you're going to the Spacetime Dao Realm?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi was slightly taken aback. He certainly knew of the Spacetime Dao Realm's existence.

"Have you already entered the threshold of the Space Dao?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked in surprise.

"Yes. I have already comprehended True Domain, Qiankun, and Spatial Rift to the True Intent stage, and my mastery of the Law of Space has likewise reached the sixth-level Domain stage," Wu Yuan said respectfully.

There was no need to conceal this.

"So quickly?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi's pupils constricted as he looked at Wu Yuan with considerable shock. This was far faster than he had anticipated.

In an instant, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi thought of many possibilities... his disciple's qi refiner self likely held even greater secrets, far more than what met the eye.

His aptitude for the Law of Space seemed weaker than that for the Law of Life on the surface, but in reality it was no less impressive.

"What about the Law of Life?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked again.

"My comprehension has reached the fourth-level True Intent stage," Wu Yuan replied.

Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi fell silent.

With such Dao comprehension, one could easily conquer level one hundred of the three-star tower even with slightly weaker combat teachings. His rate of progress was growing increasingly outrageous.

Wu Yuan didn't mention the matter of the Essence Great Dao, fearing it would worry Master Kua Chi, as he was still unclear about the specific experiences of his body refiner self.

"Continue," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed.

"My journey to the Spacetime Dao Realm may mean I’ll be away for an unknown duration," Wu Yuan said, having already researched this information.

Cultivating for thousands or tens of thousands of years in the Spacetime Dao Realm was quite normal.

"And the return of my body refiner self is equally uncertain," Wu Yuan added in a low voice. "Therefore, I wish to request that Master look after my homeland in my absence..."

"Is that all?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi asked, bewildered.

"Yes," Wu Yuan nodded. "However, this visit is also to bid farewell to Master, as I won't be able to see you while in the Spacetime Dao Realm."

"Haha, I thought it was something major. This is just a small matter. Of course, I understand. You're still young, and your closest family members are still alive, aren't they?" Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi laughed, his gaze warming.

"Yes, my sister and mother are still living," Wu Yuan replied.

"Don't worry. There's no need to fret about your family. These are minor concerns. The Spacetime Dao Realm is the real significant matter.

The Spacetime Dao Master is a formidable existence in the endless river of space and time. Even our Eldritch Court is reluctant to provoke him. Being able to cultivate in his domain is a great opportunity for you. Moreover, the spacetime imprint that Immortal Sovereign Bei You gave you is likely no ordinary one," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said.

"Seize this chance. I can provide you with an ordinary spacetime imprint, but for the powerful ones, even I have no means to obtain them."

Clearly, Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi knew much about the Spacetime Dao Realm.

"Yes, this disciple will do his best," Wu Yuan responded.

Shortly after, Wu Yuan watched as Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi departed. Regarding his family, he could only mention them briefly, unable to ask his master for more.

I've done what I can. Sometimes, on this path of cultivation, one must make choices. As his strength grew and his Dao Heart became more robust, Wu Yuan began to understand this more and more.

Disappointments and failures made up the majority of life's experiences. It was rare for everything to work out perfectly.

Wu Yuan could only do his best to ensure his family lived worry-free until the end of their natural lifespans, and to keep his homeland safe.

…

In that vast world inhabited by countless beasts.

I never expected my disciple would come to see me specifically for such a small matter. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi shook his head and chuckled.

However, he also understood why. Wu Yuan was too young, and his closest relatives were still alive; unlike those ancient beings who had lived for so long that their blood relatives had long since perished in the river of time.

After all, even if a Sovereign expended resources without limit, it was difficult to nurture an ordinary person to the level of an Astral Lord.

Very well, I'll help my disciple alleviate some of his lingering concerns. By making this sacrifice, he will be more grateful to me in the future, and our bond will deepen. Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi mused to himself.

He valued Wu Yuan immensely, recognizing his talent as the undisputed highest among all the disciples he had taken in recent years.

"Xue Ying!" [1] Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi called out.

Whoosh! Countless shadows converged, forming a blurry figure that bowed respectfully. "Eldritch Sovereign."

"Go to the Eldritch Court and request a Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi said calmly. "Then deliver it to Wu Yuan's mother and have her consume it."

"Nine Transformations Longevity Immortal Pill?" Astral Monarch Xue Ying was stunned.

He naturally understood the value of this immortal pill. Even he couldn't afford to redeem one, mainly due to lack of authority.

It was extremely difficult to refine – no one in the entire Cang Feng Eldritch World could refine it. It had to be redeemed from the Eldritch Court.

To give it to Wu Yuan's mother? Was it worth it?

"Yes, go handle this personally," Eldritch Sovereign Kua Chi instructed. "The merits required will be deducted from my account. I'll notify the Pill Hall of the Eldritch Court.

Additionally, guide Wu Yuan's sister to the best of your ability, helping her grow within the permissible limits."

"Understood," Astral Monarch Xue Ying responded, beginning to grasp the reason behind his actions.

But he was still shocked. The Eldritch Sovereign was being exceptionally generous to Wu Yuan. Even for a direct disciple, this level of treatment seemed unnecessary.

Could there be some hidden secret about Wu Yuan that he was unaware of? Astral Monarch Xue Ying speculated silently.

…

One month later.

"Ming Jian, come to me at once," a voice suddenly resonated in Wu Yuan's mind while he was in the Immortal Belvedere.

It was Immortal Sovereign Bei You’s voice.

Is it time to go to the Spacetime Dao Realm? Wu Yuan immediately opened his eyes, already prepared.

He rose and left the courtyard without delay.

Along the way, many Earth Immortals cultivating in the Immortal Belvedere bowed respectfully as he passed by.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

As he flew out of the Immortal Belvedere, Wu Yuan couldn't help but look back.

In the Spacetime Dao Realm, I probably won't have such a tranquil cultivation environment. Wu Yuan thought to himself.

He also understood that upon returning from the Spacetime Dao Realm, he likely wouldn't return to the Immortal Belvedere.

Let's go! Wu Yuan flew towards the Sovereign's temple.

1. Xue Ying = Blood Shadow ☜