Yuan's Ascension-Chapter 1039: The Wind Rises

"To have your spirit and will transformed to such an extent, it seems your gains from the Well of Life were extraordinary," Overlord Hou Jue couldn't help but marvel.

Overlords Ming Zhun and Huan Jin both turned to gaze at Wu Yuan.

While progress in spirit and will didn't follow the same orderly progression as Dao comprehension, some monstrous prodigies could reach extremely high levels of spiritual cultivation in a very short time, but there were usually special reasons for this.

Nurturing one’s inner self and accumulating experiences was of utmost importance for spiritual cultivation.

How long had Wu Yuan been cultivating? Just over a hundred thousand years.

At this moment, Wu Yuan seemed to grow more extraordinary the more the three Overlords observed him. Those bright eyes of his in particular were as vast and unfathomable as the deepest ocean.

"Wu Yuan," Overlord Ming Zhun said, "Have you left the Well of Life?"

"Yes, I've emerged. I'm currently traversing the Creation Dao Realm," Wu Yuan replied casually.

"Are you preparing to leave the Creation Dao Realm?" Overlord Hou Jue inquired, "The inter-Saintdom war has not yet concluded, and you carry Xiantian artifacts with you. If Immortal Court powerhouses detect your whereabouts, I fear it could lead to a massive siege by their Sovereigns."

The bounty on Wu Yuan's body refiner self remained in effect - anyone who killed Wu Yuan's body refiner self would receive a Xiantian artifact. Moreover, this didn't account for the Xiantian artifacts Wu Yuan carried with him.

"Indeed," Overlord Huan Jin smiled at Wu Yuan. "If you plan to leave, why don't I come escort you? You’ll only need to find a remote location and conceal yourself for a century."

Though the Creation Dao Realm seemed ablaze with conflict, it was also incomprehensibly vast. As long as one didn't wander recklessly or venture into the spatial passageways, the chances of encountering other Sovereigns were actually quite low.

"I thank the Overlords for your concern," Wu Yuan smiled. "However, I don't intend to leave the Creation Dao Realm at present.

"This inter-Saintdom war began because of me. Now that I've broken free, I wish to join the battle and contribute my strength to our Eldritch Court," Wu Yuan looked to the three Overlords.

At these words, Overlords Ming Zhun and Hou Jue furrowed their brows.

"Wu Yuan, don't be rash," Overlord Hou Jue shook her head. "From what I sense of your aura, you likely broke through from Astral Monarch to Sovereign years ago, and back then you already had strength nearing a late-stage Sovereign. Your strength is likely comparable to a ninth-stage Sovereign now, correct?"

Wu Yuan listened without offering much explanation. Even if he spoke, the three Overlords might not believe him anyway. Having Overlord-level combat power after just a hundred thousand years? That was the stuff of legend. His qi refiner self had managed it, but only with the aid of the Samsara Sword.

Moreover, words alone weren't proof. Earlier, Bai Sui and Hong Qin had quickly believed him because Wu Yuan had demonstrated his abilities. But within the voidrealm, he couldn't showcase his ultimate technique.

"Ninth-stage Sovereign combat power is indeed impressive," Overlord Ming Zhun said gravely. "If you were a Sovereign renowned over eons, you'd absolutely be a deadly weapon on the Saintdom battlefield with such strength."

In this inter-Saintdom war between the Immortal Court and Eldritch Court, no Overlord-level powerhouse had appeared yet. Ninth-stage Sovereigns were indeed the peak of combat power on the battlefield.

"But you're different. You're the peerless genius the Immortal Court regards most seriously. The moment you appear, you'll become the target of everyone's arrows. You'll face a siege by hundreds or thousands of Sovereigns," Overlord Ming Zhun shook his head. "The attacks blanketing the sky would completely annihilate you. Moreover, there are numerous late-stage Sovereign powerhouses among the Immortal Court's Sovereigns. It would be extremely dangerous."

Overlord Ming Zhun's meaning was simple – Wu Yuan's current strength was still insufficient. Ninth-stage Sovereign power? Under heavy encirclement, there was a very high probability of perishing.

"Esteemed Overlords, I understand," Wu Yuan smiled. "However, barring unforeseen circumstances, I fear this inter-Saintdom war will end in defeat for our Eldritch Court."

Silence fell.

Overlords Ming Zhun and Huan Jin exchanged a glance, both at a loss for words.

After all, it was completely true.

In the short time since Wu Yuan had entered the Eldritch Court Voidrealm, he had already searched through the intelligence archives and learned much. The Eldritch Court's Long Shan Saintdom had suffered extremely alarming losses and was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain its battle lines.

The highest-level Overlords of the Eldritch Court's Long Shan Saintdom had long since conferred and determined that defeat was inevitable.

"Wu Yuan, what are you suggesting?" Overlord Huan Jin looked at Wu Yuan.

"I wish to attempt to reverse the tide of this inter-Saintdom war," Wu Yuan said calmly.

Overlord Ming Zhun was taken aback, while a gleam flashed through Overlord Huan Jin's eyes.

All three Overlords took on thoughtful expressions.

"Wu Yuan, since you know the state of the war, you must understand how incredibly difficult what you’re proposing would be," Overlord Hou Jue finally spoke. "Are you confident you can do it?"

"I am!" Wu Yuan declared resolutely.

If it were large legions of late-stage Sovereign powerhouses, Wu Yuan wouldn't be absolutely certain. But individual Sovereigns? Even if there were thousands or tens of thousands, Wu Yuan did not fear them.

"Very well!" Overlord Hou Jue glanced at Wu Yuan. "If you're truly determined, then go ahead But I can only warn you... It will be extremely dangerous. Exercise the utmost caution.

"If you sense the situation is untenable, withdraw immediately."

"Understood." Wu Yuan nodded slightly. "I dare not claim absolute confidence in reversing the war, but I am confident in my self-preservation ability at least."

With Overlord Hou Jue speaking up, Overlords Ming Zhun and Huan Jin no longer tried to dissuade him, discussing other matters. Throughout the conversation, the three Overlords treated Wu Yuan as an equal.

"Esteemed Overlords, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Wu Yuan said, bowing slightly before departing the temple.

The three Overlords were left looking at each other.

"Hou Jue, you're really allowing Wu Yuan to act so recklessly?" Overlord Ming Zhun said in a low voice. "His true self is there – what if he perishes?" His concern was not without reason.

"Perish? I simply feel Wu Yuan is no fool," Overlord Hou Jue shook his head. "We warned him repeatedly, yet he still wishes to do this. That means he must have sufficient reason.

"There are only two possible explanations in the end.

"First, he's an idiot. And there's no need to over-educate a fool.”

"And the second?" Overlord Ming Zhun frowned.

"He has sufficient strength," Overlord Hou Jue said softly. "Perhaps an extremely powerful escape-type ability, or some self-preservation ability, or perhaps... he's already an Overlord."

Hearing the word 'Overlord', Overlords Ming Zhun and Huan Jin were both stunned for a moment, clearly shocked by the suggestion.

"Don't rush to conclusions! We'll know everything soon enough," Overlord Hou Jue said with a faint smile. "However, if Wu Yuan truly is overestimating himself, I hope Huan Jin can intervene and try to save him if possible."

"Understood," Overlord Huan Jin nodded.

...

In the Creation Dao Realm, within the Windstorm Labyrinth.

It seems Overlords Ming Zhun and Hou Jue don't believe me. Wu Yuan shook his head with a wry smile. No matter. Words are useless – I'll prove myself with strength instead.

Wu Yuan wished to enact this plan for several reasons.

First was revenge. He had faced assassination attempts even as a mortal, and had been besieged again as a sempiternal lifeform. If not for Wu Yuan's overwhelming strength, he would have died long ago.

Wu Yuan had been nursing a fire of resentment for a long time. His qi refiner self's earlier rampage in the Greenridge Macrocosm was merely him collecting interest. Now that his body refiner self was even stronger, he naturally wanted to seize the chance to strike back.

Second, this was a rare opportunity. If not for the inter-Saintdom war, where else could one find so many Sovereigns' mana and ether bodies gathered in one place?

Third was for treasures.

The Samsara Sword of my qi refiner self consumes vast quantities of treasures. Wu Yuan's eyes grew cold. By slaughtering a great number of foes, all manner of treasures will naturally end up in my hands.

Plunder had always been the swiftest way to amass wealth. Of course, it was also the most dangerous.

Days passed one by one. News of Wu Yuan's return was known only to a few Overlords and a small number of powerhouses in the Greenridge Macrocosm. For now, it had not yet leaked to the Immortal Court.

Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's body refiner self remained on that celestial body within the Windstorm Sea, silently cultivating and waiting.

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

Then one day, the previously calm Windstorm Sea abruptly grew more turbulent. Streams of black gales surged forth, their speed and power sharply increasing.

Following this, waves of majestic fluctuations emanated from the depths of the Windstorm Sea, as if some ultimate treasure was about to emerge. Such intense disturbances naturally did not escape Wu Yuan's notice.

Hmm? Has it begun? Wu Yuan's eyes snapped open, and he marveled inwardly. Such powerful fluctuations? The entire Windstorm Sea feels as if it's boiling. Bai Sui is truly sparing no expense.

However, although the commotion was extreme, it still fell short in Wu Yuan's eyes. How could disturbances of this level transmit across the entire Dao Realm?

Boom! Just as Wu Yuan was pondering this, a series of unprecedented, earth-shattering fluctuations suddenly erupted from the depths of the Windstorm Sea, their intensity dwarfing the initial disturbances by dozens of times.

Boom! Simultaneously, a vast and magnificent series of Dao fluctuations burst forth from the Windstorm Sea, sweeping outward from the epicenter in all directions, reaching countless beings within the Dao Realm.

Mere moments later, the entire Creation Dao Realm was in complete uproar. At that instant, every Sovereign within the Dao Realm sensed those Dao fluctuations that transcended space, along with the fragments of information transmitted within the fluctuations.

"A Xiantian artifact?"

"Heavens above!"

"Location confirmed. The source of the fluctuations is within the Windstorm Labyrinth. We have relatively few Sovereigns stationed there, and haven't yet pinpointed the exact place."

"Quick! Let's go!" A team of six Sovereigns from the Immortal Court sprang into action with any hesitation.

...

"A treasure has emerged!"

"A Xiantian artifact is about to emerge, and it’s not far from us. Let's depart at once and rush there at top speed."

"We must seize it." A team of Sovereigns from the Eldritch Court likewise mobilized the instant they sensed the disturbance.

...

This time, the fluctuations emanating from the Windstorm Labyrinth were truly monumental, enveloping the entire universe in the blink of an eye.

Instantly, the multitude of Sovereigns engaged in life-or-death battles at various frontlines between the Immortal Court and Eldritch Court began to withdraw from the battlefields, swiftly making their way towards the Windstorm Labyrinth.

Those Sovereign powerhouses near the Windstorm Labyrinth rushed there directly, attempting to be the first to claim the Xiantian artifact.

Hmm? A treasure? A Xiantian-level artifact is about to emerge? Overlord Wan Du, who had been waiting at the Well of Life was also instantly aware of the disturbance.

Shrouded in black robes with only his eyes visible, his entire being exuded an incomparably terrifying aura.

Inwardly, he was quite shocked. At his level, he easily discerned just how frighteningly powerful the fluctuations from this emerging treasure were.

It seems fortune favors me. That Windstorm Labyrinth isn't far from the Well of Life. Overlord Wan Du mused silently. But, should I really leave?

He hesitated at first, then swiftly made his decision.

I'll go. Though the reason is unknown, Mo Xuan can no longer divine Wu Yuan's whereabouts. It's clear that continuing to stand guard here is nearly pointless. Overlord Wan Du quickly reasoned. Better to seize this opportunity while no other enemy Overlords have arrived, and claim this Xiantian artifact.

With that thought, Overlord Wan Du wasted no time. He concealed his aura, appearing as any other Sovereign. Then he swiftly departed from the Well of Life.

...

Within the Windstorm Sea.

Those mighty Dao fluctuations erupted continuously like tidal waves, buffeting the mind and spirit of Wu Yuan, who hid within the gales.

The wind rises. Everything is ready. Wu Yuan silently observed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. The saber, too, will soon be unsheathed.