Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 763: The Devil Hollow Emerges (1)

This region seemed quiet, but massive glaciers would occasionally drift by.

The glaciers appeared to move slowly, but that was due to their immense size. In reality, they were moving at a speed of a hundred thousand li per second. If a High Immortal or High Deity were careless enough to get struck by one, they might be killed on impact.

Whoosh! Wu Yuan's form flickered, easily avoiding glacier after glacier as he waited in this area.

Previously, he had been transported into the Black Devil Blood Hollow from this place.

Last time, I was brought into the Black Devil Blood Hollow rather quickly. Wu Yuan's gaze swept the area. This time, nearly half a day has passed, and there’s still no sign of it?

Another hour went by.

Crack! A fissure suddenly appeared in the distant space. An invisible force enveloped Wu Yuan, pulling him into the crack.

Wu Yuan did not struggle throughout this process, allowing himself to be transported.

...

At its center of a dim expanse of void stood an immense, boundless range of black mountains, stretching for hundreds of millions of li.

Hum~ Similar to the last time, Wu Yuan felt the space before him waver slightly, and he found himself at the foot of the towering black mountain range. Before him stood that majestic black temple.

"Youngster, you've got guts to be back so soon," a cold voice resounded from the temple.

Thud~ Thud~ Footsteps sounded as a black-robed figure emerged from the temple. His form was somewhat ethereal, his aura elusive yet domineering.

With an icy gaze, he looked down at Wu Yuan.

It was Big Devil, the spirit of the Black Devil Blood Hollow, whom Wu Yuan had met on his first visit.

"Senior Big Devil." Wu Yuan bowed slightly. He appeared respectful, but in truth he was on high alert internally, ready to use Nine Firmaments In A Thought at any moment.

Unlike the last time, his qi refiner self was here. He couldn't be too careful. Survival was the top priority.

"Oh? So you've broken through to become a High Immortal," Big Devil looked at Wu Yuan. "Well, challenging the Black Devil Blood Hollow as a High Immortal does indeed increase your chances. But ultimately, the trials of the Black Devil Blood Hollow place more emphasis on your potential."

Wu Yuan listened silently.

During his last visit, the other party hadn't said nearly this much.

"I can sense the aura of the Black Devil Divine Pillar on you, and your true self has come. You've got guts, and you meet the basic requirements. I won't make things too difficult for you," Big Devil said coldly. "But whether you can pass the Sovereign's trials and gain the Sovereign's approval depends on you alone."

"Understood." Wu Yuan nodded. As long as it was a normal trial, there was no problem.

What he feared most was the other party acting unreasonably like the last time, striking him down without warning. That would be a terrible injustice.

In reality, although Wu Yuan had used Genesis Power to cleanse the Black Devil Star into a Genesis Star, he had only transformed two of the twelve Black Devil Divine Pillars inside into Genesis Divine Pillars. The remaining ten still maintained their Black Devil Divine Pillar form, just in case something unexpected happened in the Black Devil Blood Hollow.

After all, who knew how this mysterious Big Devil would view the Genesis Star and Genesis Divine Pillars? Naturally, it was safer to keep some Black Devil Divine Pillars as insurance.

"Enter the Black Devil Hall," Big Devil pointed at the temple behind him. "The Black Devil Hall was once the Sovereign's residence. Your potential is excellent... perhaps you will obtain the Sovereign's treasures and return alive.

Go on."

"Thank you, Senior Big Devil," Wu Yuan said, his heart filled with anticipation. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Return alive? In Wu Yuan's mind, this journey was not just about obtaining Sovereign Black Devil's treasure, but more importantly to investigate the black pagoda’s relationship with the Black Devil Divine Pillars, Black Devil Star, and other such treasures. This was of utmost importance.

Whether it is a test of talent or strength... Let’s see what Sovereign Black Devil's requirements will be. Wu Yuan thought to himself, confident in his own abilities.

If he could pass True Saint Bu Xiu’s trial, what more a Sovereign's? [1] Even if this was a terrifying Sovereign, would Wu Yuan dare to let his qi refiner self venture here if he truly lacked confidence?

Whoosh! From the outside, the interior of the great hall appeared endlessly dark, like a massive black cave. Wu Yuan flew directly into the hall, disappearing into the endless darkness.

Cultivating for just over a thousand years, yet able to slay an eighth-stage Archimmortal. Big Devil watched as Wu Yuan entered the temple.

And he's even crystallized Spacetime True Intent? Even the Sovereign in his early years can’t compare... I wonder if he’ll succeed. Big Devil pondered silently.

Though trapped in the Black Devil Blood Hollow, nothing in the entire Snowlight Mist Realm could escape his detection. He was well aware of Wu Yuan's background.

However, he was created by Sovereign Black Devil, and his temperament was in line with Sovereign Black Devil's. If Wu Yuan could succeed, he would be pleased. If he failed? He wouldn't be disappointed either.

The Sovereign is destined to perish, unable to return. Big Devil murmured to himself. Dao Master, since you want to erase all traces of the Sovereign, why leave me alive? Why leave the Black Devil Blood Hollow intact?

Suddenly, a flicker of surprise and shock flashed through Big Devil's eyes. This is the aura of the Ancestral Pagoda. He's an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? How is this possible!

He could hardly believe it. It had been endless ages since the Sovereign perished. And now, one appeared?

Big Devil might be excited, but his instincts as a spirit enabled him to act without hesitation. He immediately began to activate the vast array within the Black Devil Blood Hollow, following the orders left behind by Sovereign Black Devil ages ago.

"Activate the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array.

Devil Realm, begin recruitment.

Snowlight Mist Realm, targets locked, begin teleportation!"

...

Inside the Black Devil Hall, darkness surrounded everything.

At the center of the hall, a massive black circular pattern was traced on the ground. Wu Yuan was currently standing on it, gazing downwards in a momentary daze. His heart was racing with both excitement and shock.

The moment he had stepped onto the black circular pattern, the dormant black pagoda in his upper dantian lobe began to tremble violently—far more intensely than when he first laid eyes on the Black Devil Star or Black Devil Divine Pillars.

The tremors were magnified thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of times, shaking even his twelve Yuan Souls like an earthquake.

Whoosh! Moreover, endless red light burst forth from the black pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, and a message was transmitted to Wu Yuan: "Obtain it, you must obtain it!"

As Wu Yuan hesitated, countless points of light silently gathered, coalescing before Wu Yuan into the shadowy form of a black pagoda.

It stood about one meter tall, suspended in mid-air. Though it looked like a projection, it emanated an immeasurably vast and profound power.

When it appeared, the trembling of the black pagoda in Wu Yuan's upper dantian lobe grew even more intense, as if it were trying to break free.

This? Is it a projection of the black pagoda? Wu Yuan was stunned.

The pagoda projected before him was identical to the black pagoda in his upper dantian lobe, matching even in the finest details.

At this moment, Wu Yuan's heart was churning with waves of shock and awe.

The true forms of the Black Devil Divine Pillars and the Black Devil Star are all powered by Genesis Power, and Genesis Power is produced by the black pagoda. The black pagoda in my upper dantian lobe is merely a projection of the true black pagoda. Countless thoughts flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.

Sovereign Black Devil must have an inextricable connection to the black pagoda. Or could it be that Sovereign Black Devil was the previous owner of the black pagoda? A bold idea flashed through Wu Yuan's mind.

The black pagoda was profoundly mysterious. To this day, Wu Yuan had not uncovered its true nature, but today, he finally glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.

What perplexed Wu Yuan the most was the black pagoda’s projection suddenly appearing within the Black Devil Hall.

Could it be that the Black Devil Blood Hollow was also aware of the intense resonance of the black pagoda within him?

Wu Yuan felt uneasy, an instinctive reaction to having one's greatest secret potentially exposed.

Whoosh~ A blurry figure coalesced behind the black pagoda’s projection. He sat upon a black throne, his aura vast and mighty, his features indistinct save for a pair of clearly visible eyes that burned like two stars. An intangible pressure spread out, causing Wu Yuan's spirit to tremble.

Sovereign Black Devil? Wu Yuan was startled.

“Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer. Did you come specifically because you sensed the resonance of the essence?" The blurry figure on the throne spoke, his voice resounding majestically through the temple, yet carrying an undercurrent of sorrow.

This voice held an intangible power to move hearts, instinctively evoking a sense of grief in Wu Yuan.

"You are very weak... If I were still alive, you would surely die. Alas, it's all the Dao Master's... Well, I’m already dead. What does your life or death matter to me?

Since you desire it, I'll give it to you. But whether you can receive it depends on your strength. If you're not strong enough, you'll perish here.

I only hope you won't regret it later... The path of Genesis is both destiny and calamity. Don't end up like me, toiling only for others' benefit, haha!" The blurred voice on the throne laughed, his tone filled with endless sorrow and hatred.

An unseen force enveloped Wu Yuan, overwhelming him with emotion. Tears flowed uncontrollably as countless sorrowful memories from his past surged to the forefront of his mind. An intangible sadness weighed heavily on his spirit, pushing aside all other thoughts.

Like a dream bubble bursting, the silhouettes of the black pagoda and Sovereign Black Devil vanished simultaneously. The invisible force enveloping the great hall also dissipated rapidly.

After a long while, Wu Yuan finally regained his clarity, and immediately, a surge of shock welled up in his heart. How terrifying. This power to affect one’s emotions is simply inconceivable.

Wu Yuan was certain that if those thoughts had continued to influence him, they might have led him to suicide, and he would have followed its command without hesitation.

Sovereign Black Devil has fallen, yet even this mere remnant of his will is so formidable? Wu Yuan thought to himself.

In the past, he had encountered many Sovereigns, but they had all been polite. He had never truly felt the might of a Sovereign powerhouse. Today, he finally witnessed the capabilities of a pinnacle expert in heaven and earth.

One had to understand that in terms of soul strength, Dao Heart and willpower, Wu Yuan was not inferior to late-stage Astral Lord powerhouses, yet he was still affected by this influence.

Then, Wu Yuan began to ponder Sovereign Black Devil's words. The path of Genesis? Generating a resonance?

Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? Ancestral Pagoda, it’s exactly the same as what the Origin Spirit called it back then. Wu Yuan thought to himself. Could it be that those like me, who possess an Ancestral Pagoda projection in their upper dantian lobe, are Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearers?

What is this path of Genesis? Is it related to the Ancestral Pagoda?

Was Sovereign Black Devil also an Ancestral Pagoda imprint bearer? But he possessed treasures like the Genesis Divine Pillar and the Black Devil Star, seemingly more than what I have, yet he still perished.

Toiling for others' benefit? Is he referring to the Dao Master? Wu Yuan felt that there were too many puzzles, all waiting to be pieced together.

What did the black pagoda, or rather the Ancestral Pagoda, truly represent? And what was its ultimate purpose?

Sovereign Black Devil just said he would give me something. What is it, and where is it? Wu Yuan's gaze swept across his surroundings.

There was nothing.

Hum~ An invisible force suddenly enveloped Wu Yuan. His mana resisted instinctively, and he instantly vanished from his spot.

1. Immutable True Saint = True Saint Bu Xiu ☜