Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 703: What Do the Rules Of The Dao Realm Matter To Me

Wu Yuan had obtained relevant intelligence from the messages delivered by the Black Devil Divine Pillar, which mentioned the Black Devil Divine Pillar and the Black Devil Star. The Black Devil Star was a higher grade artifact than the Black Devil Divine Pillar.

Back then, I found it strange that a mana body of a Sixth Tribulation High Immortal would dare to carry an artifact as precious as a Black Devil Divine Pillar. So it turns out he possessed a Black Devil Star. Wu Yuan now understood.

Originally, he had only intended to kill High Immortal Zhuo Hao to eliminate a potential threat. Now, Wu Yuan had only one thought in his mind—to seize this Black Devil Star, then use the Genesis Power, or blood mist, to undo Sovereign Black Devil’s alterations. Perhaps he could then uncover deeper secrets of the black pagoda.

The moment the Black Devil Star appeared, the black pagoda in the upper dantian lobe of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self began to tremble slightly once again.

Though Wu Yuan's thoughts raced, his movements did not slow in the slightest.

Boom! Nine celestial swords howled through the air, their sword qi interweaving, subtly distorting space and altering the flow of time. Like a series of hazy sword silhouettes, they struck toward High Immortal Zhuo Hao.

"No matter how great your talent, you're still merely an Earth Immortal. I don't believe you can defeat me," High Immortal Zhuo Hao roared through voice transmission. "Now die!"

Boom! High Immortal Zhuo Hao suddenly waved his hand.

As his vital aura surged, seven enormous spirit cauldrons materialized before him. Each cauldron burned with flames, exuding a powerful aura. All were low-grade celestial artifacts, yet they clearly possessed auras far stronger than normal low-grade celestial artifacts.

Lifebound artifacts? Following the ordinary evolution pathway? Wu Yuan instantly understood.

Forget following the optimal evolution pathway like himself, even for the intermediate evolution pathway, it was no easy feat for an ordinary High Immortal to upgrade their lifebound flying sword to the level of a low-grade celestial artifact.

At the same time, over a dozen miniature stars wreathed in flames also appeared, all at the level of low-grade celestial artifacts.

High Immortal Zhuo Hao infused his mana, which rivaled that of an Archimmortal, into the twenty-plus low-grade celestial artifacts.

This instantly augmented the might of these low-grade celestial artifacts, their power reaching a terrifying level that even caused the stable space around them to tremble faintly.

How powerful. Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Relying on his comprehension of both Time and Space, he had frustrated many Archimmortals before, but had never truly faced someone at the Archimmortal level head-on. In the past, he was indeed no match for them.

“Hao Zhuo." The purple-robed High Deity who had just escaped death at Wu Yuan's hands and barely reconstituted his body stared at Wu Yuan in shock.

"What artifact is that?"

"I'm not sure."

"What a terrifying aura. Does this High Immortal possess Archimmortal-level strength?" The many High Immortals and High Deities observing the battle were secretly astonished.

Normally, even among ten thousand High Immortals, it was rare for one to be able to unleash Archimmortal-level power.

Even among the elite High Immortals and High Deities who ventured into the Snowlight Mist Realm, only one in a thousand could unleash Archimmortal-level strength on average.

It's a Black Devil Star... it must be! A Black Devil Star has appeared here? The black-armored Sixth Tribulation High Deity who had fled far away after employing his spear technique was both shocked and delighted.

He was part of a major faction in the Dao Realm and possessed extensive knowledge. He knew a thing or two about Black Devil Stars. Without hesitation, the black-armored High Deity began transmitting a message for help.

"Senior Uncle, a Black Devil Star has emerged. The location is the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain, and the spacetime coordinates are..."

...

The various High Immortals and High Deities observing the battle were all shocked by the successive displays of power from Wu Yuan and High Immortal Zhuo Hao.

Many High Immortals and High Deities chose to flee, as the level of their battle was far beyond them. Even the slightest ripple effect could result in their demise.

Rumble! At this moment, the seven spirit cauldrons and fourteen flaming stars converged to form a single entity, taking the shape of a terrifying jiaolong towering tens of thousands of zhangs tall, with a body so long it coiled without end. Nine claws protruding from its mid-section enveloped High Immortal Zhuo Hao within.

Boom! As soon as the nine-clawed jiaolong was formed, its entire body burned with flames, as though transforming into an inferno that raged through the sky. The ancient and ferocious aura it radiated spread far and wide.

"He's formed a solo battle array."

"So powerful." Many High Immortals and High Deities were frightened. This level of combat power would absolutely crush them.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The instant the nine-clawed jiaolong took form, the sword domain assembled from the nine great celestial swords blanketed the sky and covered the earth. Sword intent surged to the heavens as sword lights enveloped everything.

Boom! Boom! The nine-clawed jiaolong roared as it lashed out with its claws, swatting away the celestial swords.

Each collision was like an explosion.

At the same time, the nine-clawed jiaolong swung its tail, rending space as it tried to pursue and kill Wu Yuan.

Rumble! A great battle raged. The Dao profundities displayed by the nine-clawed jiaolong still fell short of the Archimmortal level, but its overwhelming power definitely gave it Archimmortal-level combat strength.

As for Wu Yuan's celestial swords, each strike barely reached the threshold of the first-stage Archimmortal level. But they had the advantage of greater numbers and his sword domain's binding and suppression effects.

But the biggest advantage was Wu Yuan's Moonlight Shadow technique, which allowed him to split into phantoms and easily evade the nine-clawed jiaolong's killing strikes.

This naturally led to a fierce battle that was evenly matched on both sides.

My mana capacity is still too small. If I had brought the Genesis Divine Pillar to boost my mana, a single sword strike would have been enough to breach his jiaolong array. Wu Yuan found himself in a predicament.

Over the years, he had made significant progress in the Laws of Time and Space. For instance, though he was still on the first step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime, he was already able to unleash far greater power than when he first grasped it. The profoundness of the sword techniques he could now employ was comparable to the Archimmortal level.

In terms of artifacts, with nine celestial swords in hand, he was not far behind High Immortal Zhuo Hao.

The only shortcoming was his mana. It could be said that if not for his comprehension of Space and Time, and his exceptional movement skill, the current Wu Yuan might have had to flee in defeat.

This Black Devil Star is indeed much more powerful. Most importantly, it’s his true self this time. Wu Yuan silently pondered.

If this wasn’t High Immortal Zhuo Hao’s true self, how could he possess such combat power?

The key difference between one's true self and mana body lay in the soul and lifebound artifacts. If it were his mana body, he wouldn't be able to control so many low-grade celestial artifacts.

Stall! He's activating the Black Devil Star, granting him a tremendous boost in combat power, but he can't sustain it indefinitely. Wu Yuan understood clearly.

...

"They're both so terrifying!"

"Indeed, to think the Spacetime Sword Immortal could truly unleash Archimmortal-level power."

"That High Immortal actually possessed such overwhelming strength? He didn't reveal it at all before." The many High Immortals and High Deities marveled in admiration. They couldn’t afford to provoke either one.

"Hmm? Something's not right. Why did that nine-clawed jiaolong flee?"

"It was gaining the upper hand, yet it fled?" Most of the High Immortals and High Deities were bewildered.

...

High Immortal Zhuo Hao manipulated the various artifacts that formed the nine-clawed jiaolong, repeatedly blocking Wu Yuan's attacks while attempting counterattacks.

At first glance, he seemed to have the advantage. Yet he was unable to do any real damage to Wu Yuan. Even when fleeing frantically, he couldn't shake off Wu Yuan, who continued to pressure him at close range.

Unlike Wu Yuan, High Immortal Zhuo Hao needed to consume large quantities of Devil Divine Pills to activate the Black Devil Star, and his supply of pills was limited.

Boom! Several towering glaciers over a million miles high were impacted by the shockwaves of their battle.

Fortunately, the environment of the Myriad Mountains Ice Plain was special and sufficiently resilient.

Suddenly, High Immortal Zhuo Hao, who had been fighting with overwhelming momentum, saw his vital aura plummet sharply. The speed and power of the nine-clawed jiaolong abruptly diminished, and it stumbled, nearly crashing to the ground.

Thousand Swords Array! Wu Yuan, who had been waiting for an opportunity, finally seized his chance.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! High-grade spirion flying swords filled the sky, 720 in total. Each flying sword was etched with Dao patterns that emitted an unfathomable aura.

Boom! As he infused his mana into them, the nine celestial swords and 720 high-grade spirion flying swords converged into one.

In the sky, a divine sword radiating a terrifyingly dreadful aura appeared. It was completely transparent, as if merged with space itself.

This was Wu Yuan's ultimate killing move after his soul's breakthrough—the Thousand Swords Array.

However, using so many celestial swords and high-grade spirion artifacts to form a sword array placed extreme demands on one's soul and consumed vast amounts of mana. Therefore, Wu Yuan would not employ it except at crucial moments.

First step of the Nine Swords of Spacetime—the Sword of Spacetime. With a mental command from Wu Yuan, the divine sword moved.

Whoosh! The world seemed to split in half as an eerie thread of sword light appeared, sweeping across the sky. It severed two of the jiaolong's claws that were raised in defense. Then, amidst the jiaolong's despairing roars, it pierced an inconspicuous scale on its belly.

Rip! The jiaolong's body was instantly impaled, and the resentful auras contained within it dissipated. Like a cascade of falling dominoes, the entire jiaolong completely disintegrated.

No! Impossible. High Immortal Zhuo Hao gazed at Wu Yuan in the distance, filled with terror. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Even if he had pushed the Black Devil Star to its limits, causing it to falter, it should have logically taken Wu Yuan a considerable time to breach his nine-clawed jiaolong. How could he destroy it with a single sword strike?

What High Immortal Zhuo Hao didn't realize was that while an ordinary Archimmortal might indeed take that long, he was facing Wu Yuan.

In terms of Dao comprehension, Wu Yuan far surpassed him, as did his swordsmanship.

During their previous exchanges and clashes, Wu Yuan had been using his sword domain and flying swords to probe and locate the vulnerable points in the nine-clawed jiaolong.

He wouldn't strike while uncertain, but when he did, it was fatal!

"Fall," Wu Yuan's gaze was cold as he strode through the sky, splitting into multiple phantoms indistinguishable from himself.

Boom! The divine sword pierced through the nine-clawed jiaolong, tracing an eerie path through the air before swooping towards High Immortal Zhuo Hao once more.

Though High Immortal Zhuo Hao was still desperately trying to flee, without the enhancement of the Black Devil Star, he was merely a Sixth Tribulation High Immortal, his power vastly inferior to that of a true Archimmortal. How could he possibly escape?

Clang! Clang! The divine sword swept through, obliterating a series of artifacts that High Immortal Zhuo Hao had deployed, warping the space around them. Even the flow of time was distorted and erratic.

Whoosh! The sword light pierced High Immortal Zhuo Hao's body. It collapsed, his Yuan Soul completely eradicated.

High Immortal Zhuo Hao was dead.

A large assortment of artifacts was left suspended in place, their auras rapidly diminishing.

And besides the pile of celestial equipment and storage artifacts, there was also that black sphere emanating a powerful and mysterious aura – the Black Devil Star.

This scene left the High Immortals and High Deities standing on the distant glacier gaping in disbelief.

A powerful High Immortal whose strength rivaled an Archimmortal had fallen just like that?

However, they dared not approach. High Immortal Zhuo Hao might have died, but the even more powerful Wu Yuan was still well and alive.

A Black Devil Star. Not bad. Wu Yuan took a single step, crossing hundreds of thousands of li and arriving at the site of High Immortal Zhuo Hao's demise.

Whoosh! The spacetime divine sword rapidly dispersed, transforming into countless flying swords that circled around Wu Yuan.

“Spacetime Earth Immortal, I implore you to relinquish the Black Devil Star! It is a forbidden item that none of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm are permitted to use. I must take it back." A deep voice suddenly resonated from millions of li away, echoing throughout heaven and earth.

This voice, transmitted through Dao fluctuations, naturally traveled at extreme speeds.

Instantly, numerous High Immortals and High Deities turned to look, and were somewhat surprised to see a being with an incredibly majestic aura rapidly approaching at the speed of light. An Archimmortal! And a rather powerful one at that.

"What is this Black Devil Star? I know nothing of it. How do I know you're not trying to deceive me? I only know that this is my spoils of battle, and naturally belongs to me," Wu Yuan's voice likewise resounded throughout heaven and earth. "Even if what you say is true, it's merely a rule of the nine major factions of the Dao Realm. What does that have to do with me? I am a member of the Spacetime Island."

As he spoke, Wu Yuan instantly collected all the suspended treasures with a wave, including the Black Devil Star.

Boom! Wu Yuan accelerated to the speed of light as well, quickly leaving. He had no intention of directly confronting a powerful Archimmortal.

"Spacetime Sword Immortal, if you roam the Dao Realm, you must abide by the rules of the Dao Realm." A rather angry roar echoed.

Hum~ A vast wave of soul power began sweeping towards Wu Yuan.