Yuan’s Ascension

After departing from the Astral Lord Hall, High Immortal Wu Tian led Wu Yuan back to his own hall, where Protectorate Xiong Yuan had been awaiting their return.

Wu Tian's voice was soft but laden with expectation as he addressed Wu Yuan. "The Astral Lord has placed high hopes on you, Wu Yuan. He even went so far as to invite an Astral Lord from the Silvermist Division to mentor you. You must dedicate yourself fully to your cultivation; do not disappoint him. If you require anything for your cultivation, don't hesitate to inform me."

The High Immortal's tone became more reassuring as he continued, "I'll oversee the affairs of your homeland world, so you needn't concern yourself with such matters. Your sole focus should be on your cultivation."

Wu Yuan nodded. "Thank you, High Immortal. I won't let you down."

Wu Tian's voice took on a more instructional tone. "Also, once you enter the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm, you'll receive battle records of all the geniuses who've conquered level thirteen of the Dark Star from the entire Silvermist Division. This is by the Astral Lord's decree. Remember to go through them."

"Understood," Wu Yuan affirmed.

…

Protectorate Xiong Yuan, though unaware of their encounter with the Astral Lord, couldn't help but notice the unusually courteous way High Immortal Wu Tian treated Wu Yuan, almost as if he were his own flesh and blood. This observation prompted Xiong Yuan to adopt an increasingly deferential attitude towards Wu Yuan, his words now tinged with a hint of flattery.

The two bid farewell to Wu Tian and departed from the Redmoon Devil Hall, making their way back to the Origin Blood World and heading straight for District One.

District One occupied a relatively modest area spanning just ten thousand li in width, and typically housed only a few dozen to a few hundred Bloodforge Seeds year-round. The arrival of Protectorate Xiong Yuan and Wu Yuan quickly drew curious gazes and hushed whispers.

"Is that really Wu Yuan?"

"It must be. He's the spitting image of the person in those images circulating in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm."

"Such a powerful aura.”

"Commit his soul aura to memory. If you ever cross paths with him in the Bloodforge Battle, make sure to give him a wide berth." The gathered Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds nodded in agreement.

They all prided themselves as geniuses. But facing Wu Yuan? They didn’t even have the courage to put up a fight.

A keen-eyed observer noted, "He's heading towards Mansion One. The one Bai Li is residing in."

"Of course he is," another retorted. "With Wu Yuan's strength, where else would he go but Mansion One?"

Power prevailed above all else. This belief was ingrained deep within the bones of the members of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.

As they approached Mansion One, a girl clad in white greeted them with a disarming smile. "I am Bai Li. It's a pleasure to meet you, Junior Brother Wu Yuan."

Wu Yuan returned the greeting with a respectful nod. "Senior Sister Bai Li."

Thanks to Protectorate Xiong Yuan's briefing along the way, Wu Yuan had a rough understanding of the Bloodforge Seeds in the Redmoon Division, particularly Bai Li and Shui Heng. He wasn't fooled by Bai Li's innocent facade; he knew all too well the steel that lay beneath her gentle exterior. She was, without a doubt, a top-tier genius.

Curiously, Wu Yuan noticed the absence of the other renowned genius, Shui Heng.

Bai Li's voice was honeyed as she spoke, but Wu Yuan detected a hint of resignation beneath her words. "Junior Brother Wu Yuan, given your strength, it's only fitting that you reside in Mansion One. I won't embarrass myself by challenging you; the mansion is yours."

Wu Yuan's response was polite but firm. "I appreciate your understanding, Senior Sister."

He was beginning to grasp the unwritten rules of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. Here, power spoke louder than words, and one claimed the benefits they deserved without hesitation. Modesty? It would only be perceived as weakness.

Protectorate Xiong Yuan's voice carried a hint of amusement as he prepared to take his leave. "If everything is settled, I'll be on my way. Wu Yuan, take your time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. All the information you need about the Bloodforge Devil Hall can be found in the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to seek me out."

"Understood," Wu Yuan nodded.

In the blink of an eye, Protectorate Xiong Yuan vanished.

After bidding farewell to Bai Li, Wu Yuan strode purposefully into Mansion One. He was greeted by a group of Qi Sea phase servants, who bowed respectfully, well-accustomed to the changing of the mansion's masters.

Outside, Bai Li watched Wu Yuan enter the mansion, her eyes clouded with a mix of emotions. She had called this place home for over a decade, and now…

She lingered for a moment, lost in thought, before launching herself into the sky. Within moments, she alighted before another grand mansion.

Gone was her delicate facade, replaced by a chilling tone as she announced, "Xi Xin, I've taken a fancy to your mansion. Get out."

This was the harsh reality of District One. Beyond Mansion One, ownership of all other residences was determined solely by strength. The strong chose, and the weak complied.

…

Inside the meditation chamber of Mansion One.

Wu Yuan paid little heed to the commotion his arrival had caused throughout the Redmoon Division. He was currently focused on sending a strand of consciousness into the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.

This voidrealm was a wonder to behold, containing everything one could imagine—from a towering Daoist Scripture Tower to marketplaces where all sorts of treasures could be acquired. All transactions and activities within the Bloodforge Devil Hall could be conducted here.

Time to acquaint myself with the rules of this place. Wu Yuan thought, deciding to start by perusing the multitude of virtual immortal slips provided in his personal hall.

As the hours slipped by, Wu Yuan absorbed the wealth of information, gaining a clearer and deeper understanding of the Bloodforge Devil Hall. This was truly a formidable and fiercely competitive superpower.

A glimmer of determination shone in Wu Yuan's eyes as he contemplated his path forward. For now, my focus must be on self-improvement, continuously growing stronger within the Bloodforge Devil Hall, striving to become the strongest of my generation. One day, I will overcome my Tribulations and become an Archeldritch.

If an eldritch warrior successfully overcame their Tribulations, they became an Archeldritch.

His first order of business was clear: exchange the merits gifted by Astral Lord Yin He for a saber codex suited to his needs. This was Wu Yuan's most fervent desire.

Only by cultivating a sufficiently powerful saber codex of the Celestial Body Dao could he fully unleash the potential of his body refiner self.

The Daoist Scripture Tower within the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm was a treasure trove of knowledge, housing an array of teachings and secret arts that dwarfed even the vast collection of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect by nearly tenfold. This alone spoke volumes about the astonishing depth and reach of this superpower.

Of course, Wu Yuan's privileged status as a Bloodforge Seed granted him access to redeem virtually any teaching he desired.

As he browsed through the redemption requirements for numerous teachings, Wu Yuan made a rough estimate: one merit in the Bloodforge Devil Hall was approximately equivalent to a hundred catties of ethercrystal, more than ten times the value of the same number of dragon crystals in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.

Celestial Body Dao, saber codex. After careful consideration, Wu Yuan finally settled on an exceptionally powerful saber codex—the 'Starsunder Saber Codex'.

This was a true combat methodology. The entire saber codex was divided into nine steps, each centered around eight key moves: Starsunder, Scorching Sun, Earth Burial, Star Tread, Limitless, Ten Thousand Blades, Vast Land, and Rising Tide of Stars.

Each distinct move embodied a unique approach to navigating various combat situations, offering profound insights into the mindset of the codex's creator.

Among the eight key moves, there was no hierarchy of strength; each possessed its own merits and applications.

Wu Yuan's eyes widened as he saw the price. Just the first six steps of the Starsunder Saber Codex require five hundred thousand merits? He shook his head in disbelief.

The cost was staggering. To redeem the entire saber codex would require a mind-boggling five million devil hall merits.

After a moment of careful deliberation, Wu Yuan decided to redeem only the first six steps. It was more than enough to occupy his cultivation efforts for the foreseeable future.

…

And so, Wu Yuan began delving into the teachings of the Starsunder Saber Codex.

Unbeknownst to him, a command was being issued to Protectorate Rao Jin: "Amethyst Cradle Reverend Huo Yan identified a peerless genius but failed to report his discovery, violating the hall's rules. He has committed a capital offense and is to be executed immediately!"

"Understood." Protectorate Rao Jin's voice quavered as he received the order.

He had been keeping a close eye on Wu Yuan, fully aware of the extent of the young cultivator's brilliance. It far surpassed even his wildest expectations.

But he hadn't anticipated that Reverend Huo Yan's punishment would be enacted with such swiftness and finality.

Capital punishment? With the order coming directly from the higher echelons of the Bloodforge Devil Hall, the terrified Reverend Huo Yan didn't even attempt to resist. He was executed on the spot.

After all, with both a Void Refiner Eminence and an Elysian Field Eminence carrying out the order, what hope did an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle Reverend like Huo Yan have of resisting?

And just like that, Reverend Huo Yan, once the mightiest being in the Summerpeak World, met his end without so much as a whimper.

…

When news of Reverend Huo Yan's death reached Wu Yuan through Protectorate Xiong Yuan, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected that the enemy he once feared most, an eighth-stage Amethyst Cradle phase cultivator, would perish so quietly, so unceremoniously.

This stark reality only further impressed upon Wu Yuan the merciless nature of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.

Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, concrete evidence would have been required before a late-stage Amethyst Cradle cultivator could be sentenced to death. Of course, if Wu Yuan had taken action himself, that would have been a different story entirely.

This is the true power of status. Wu Yuan mused inwardly, his eyes turning cold as ice. I didn't even have to lift a finger, and an enemy of mine is dead. Here in the Bloodforge Devil Hall, I must remain ever vigilant to ensure I don't meet the same fate as Reverend Huo Yan.

A sense of urgency filled him. I have to get stronger. If I'm strong, the Middle Land won't come to any harm. If I die and my qi refiner self is unable to return, disaster may befall the Middle Land.

Days went by in a flash.

Wu Yuan engaged in dialogue with several Golden Core Bloodforge Seeds and swiftly established connections with various Amethyst Cradle cultivators and Void Refiner Eminences within the Bloodforge Devil Hall. He integrated himself into the complex hierarchy of the devil hall with remarkable speed.

Gradually, his cultivation progress in the Bloodforge Devil Hall found its rhythm, with the Celestial Body Law Codex as the core and the Starsunder Saber Codex as support.

Compared to the Dark Earth Sword Array and Star Ruins Sword Array, Wu Yuan's body refiner self found the Starsunder Saber Codex more aligned with his natural inclinations.

The two true selves were, after all, distinct entities with their own unique characteristics.

Every month, like clockwork, Astral Lord Chen Deng's incarnation would materialize at Wu Yuan's mansion to guide him through the Starsunder Saber Codex.

Initially, Astral Lord Chen Deng's demeanor was aloof and indifferent, seemingly unmoved by Wu Yuan's prodigious talent. "This saber codex suits you well. Cultivate it diligently," he would say, his tone neutral.

But a mere three months later, his attitude underwent a dramatic shift.

How can his progress be so rapid? It's beyond belief. Astral Lord Chen Deng found himself truly taken aback by Wu Yuan's advancement in the Celestial Body Dao.

Despite his initial reservations, Chen Deng had to admit that instructing a disciple of Wu Yuan's caliber was a rare joy. He began to mentor the young cultivator with increased fervor and dedication.

This heightened level of instruction only served to accelerate Wu Yuan's already impressive progress.

…

My master guided me in comprehending the Celestial Body Dao through the 'Dark Earth Sword Codex' and the 'Star Ruins Sword Codex', approaching it from a sword-centric perspective that better suits my qi refiner self.

The guidance from Astral Lord Chen Deng, however, comes from the perspective of the saber codex.

With both forms of instruction at my disposal, my two selves are able to cross-verify principles and put them to the test. As his soul grew stronger, Wu Yuan felt his progress along the path of the Celestial Body Dao surge forward at an unprecedented pace.

He shattered through various bottlenecks, solving difficulties one after another with seeming ease.

A monster! This Wu Yuan, he's an uncut gem of immeasurable value! Astral Lord Chen Deng found himself increasingly astounded by his pupil's progress. How can he be merely a once-in-a-million-year talent from the Redmoon Division?

Has the entire Redmoon Division ever produced such an outstanding talent in its hundreds of millions of years of existence?

Unbelievable. His progress is accelerating even further. Despite his disbelief, Astral Lord Chen Deng couldn't deny the rapid improvements unfolding before his very eyes.

He seriously considered taking Wu Yuan as his formal disciple.

But caution prevailed. Hold on, there's no need to rush. Let's wait until the Bloodforge Battle concludes.

…

Time passed. Wu Yuan's two true selves—one in the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the other in the Bloodforge Devil Hall—engaged in intensive cultivation. They engaged in constant cross-verification of insights, working in tandem to comprehend the profundities of the Dao.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

In the world residence of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect headquarters, within the arcane arts experimental zone, tens of thousands of li wide.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self hovered in mid-air.

Condense!

In an instant, a tidal wave of vibrant green qi streams surged around him, their sheer force seeming to reach the very heavens.

Each stream of this green energy resembled a resilient vine or unbreakable chain, pulsating with vibrant vitality as they encircled Wu Yuan in an intricate, swirling dance.

Then, with a suddenness that seemed to catch the very air by surprise, a flying sword materialized. It streaked across the sky, cutting through layers of green qi streams. A flash of potent sword intent surged forth, resolute and unstoppable!

With this strike, I have finally stepped through the initiate threshold of the ‘Extended Life Sword Codex’. Wu Yuan gently closed his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips.

The Longevity Dao, I have finally grasped it. Master said that if I could break through before the age of a hundred, it would be good enough. Yet here I am, not even fifty-three years old.

The Longevity Dao is the second Intermediate Law I have comprehended. Wu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, which sparked with anticipation and curiosity.

Once these two laws converge, to what heights will my strength soar?

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