Yuan’s Ascension

"Master!!

Master, you've finally returned." Star Moon, sensing Wu Yuan's aura, immediately rushed out from the hall, overjoyed. “Uuuuuu... I was so worried about you."

Wu Yuan was taken aback, then shook his head. "Go back to normal."

"Master, you're too amazing. I've heard all about it," Star Moon exclaimed excitedly. "You killed hundreds of Astral Lords in a single battle, showing Astral Monarch combat power.

Master, none of the Spacetime Island imprint bearers I served before can compare to you," Star Moon continued.

Wu Yuan shook his head and chuckled. He hadn't expected that even Star Moon, a spirit entity, would be so excited.

"Master, now that you're back, will your true self be leaving again?" Star Moon asked.

"I won't be going out for the time being," Wu Yuan replied.

Less than two hours after returning to the Spacetime Island, Wu Yuan received a message from Sovereign Lan Yan.

He immediately entered the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm.

…

"Ming Jian pays his respects to the Sovereign," Wu Yuan said respectfully in the majestic temple. "I must thank the Sovereign for saving my life this time."

Amidst endless blue flames, a blurry figure looked down upon Wu Yuan. "There’s no need to thank me. Even if I hadn't intervened, I believe you could have escaped on your own."

Wu Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

"There’s no need to be surprised. I am a Sovereign of Space, and this is the Spacetime Island. There are some things you might be able to conceal from ordinary Sovereigns, but not from me," Sovereign Lan Yan's voice was ethereal, leaving much unsaid. But her meaning was clear.

Wu Yuan grew increasingly alarmed, but soon regained his calm.

It made sense. If the measures taken by Second Devil, Ninth Devil, and the other Astral Monarchs could easily evade the Spacetime Island's perception and detection, then the Spacetime Island could hardly be called a Dao Master's creation.

"All those measures are part of your abilities, and the Spacetime Island won't interfere," Sovereign Lan Yan gazed down at Wu Yuan. "But remember, don't use them within the Spacetime Island."

"This junior understands," Wu Yuan said.

"You've made quite a splash in the Snowlight Mist Realm this time. Well done," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "I imagine the various factions throughout the river of space and time will truly take notice of you now."

Wu Yuan listened quietly.

"As long as you remain on the Spacetime Island, you need not worry about your safety," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "However, I'm also aware of the grudge you've formed with Sovereign Mo Lang.

It's better to resolve grudges than to let them fester. You haven't taken much losses in the end, so I suggest you reconcile with Sovereign Mo Lang," Sovereign Lan Yan looked at Wu Yuan.

"Sovereign," Wu Yuan said, neither servile nor overbearing, "It's not that this junior is unwilling to reconcile, but Sovereign Mo Lang's demands are too excessive.”

"I'm aware of Sovereign Mo Lang's demands and have advised him," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "He will speak with you again... The final decision lies with you.

However, if you can resolve this enmity, it would be for the best. After all, unless you become a supreme existence in the future, you won't be able to do anything to him," Sovereign Lan Yan looked down at Wu Yuan.

"This junior understands," Wu Yuan nodded, deep in thought.

Sovereign Lan Yan's words were not a threat, but a kind reminder.

Indeed! While Sovereign Mo Lang was wary of Wu Yuan, the reverse was equally true—Wu Yuan was quite wary of Sovereign Mo Lang as well. No cultivator would willingly make an enemy of a Sovereign unless absolutely necessary.

"Your potential is astounding. Continue to cultivate diligently." Sovereign Lan Yan gazed at Wu Yuan and said, "By the way, there's something you may not yet be aware of."

"I humbly await the Sovereign's guidance," Wu Yuan replied.

"In approximately sixteen thousand years, the Megaverse Crossroads will open," Sovereign Lan Yan stated. "This is the rough timeframe calculated by the Dao Master, who instructed me to inform you."

"The Dao Master told you to inform me?" Wu Yuan was taken aback.

The Spacetime Dao Master, a supreme being, normally wouldn’t concern himself with lower-level beings.

"The Dao Master is extremely interested in you," Sovereign Lan Yan said. "Prepare yourself well.

The Dao Master's divination ability ranks among the top in the entire megaverse, though it's hard to claim that he takes the absolute first place. The Dao Master has yet to fully comprehend Destiny after all.

Even if many top-tier factions aren’t able to calculate the exact date, it shouldn’t be far off. After all, the closer to the opening date, the more precise the calculations."

"I thank the Dao Master and the Sovereign," Wu Yuan said, silently pondering.

Sixteen thousand years seemed like a long time. Wu Yuan had only lived for just over two thousand years.

Yet it was also short. The path of cultivation grew more difficult the further one progressed. If he had several hundred thousand years, Wu Yuan would likely be able to advance his Dao comprehension to the Sovereign level given rate of progress.

But with only sixteen thousand years left? Things were no longer certain.

Whether the Great Dao of Spacetime or the Great Dao of Creation, the bottleneck between ninth-level True Intent stage and the first-level Dao Field stage was an extremely difficult one to break through.

"In terms of natural talent and cultivation speed alone, you could be considered among the very best not just in our river of space and time, but across the entire megaverse," Sovereign Lan Yan said.

"Among the very best?" Wu Yuan was inwardly astonished.

It was high praise. Although Wu Yuan was extremely confident, he dared not claim that no one in the endless river of space and time could surpass him. One must maintain a sense of reverence toward the vast heaven and earth.

"Yes, while talent is difficult to quantify precisely, at the very least, no one would dare claim their aptitude surpasses yours," Sovereign Lan Yan continued slowly.

"However, the Megaverse Crossroads is where the providence of various rivers of space and time converge... It's an era of great contention, where the number of geniuses and powerhouses born is tenfold that of normal eras.

Moreover, the competition at the Megaverse Crossroads is a clash of prodigies from the entire megaverse, whereas the so-called Supreme Geniuses of the past mostly refer to those within our own river of space and time.

Therefore, an abundance of peerless geniuses will gather."

Wu Yuan listened intently.

His understanding of the Megaverse Crossroads was limited. After all, it only opened once every 5.5 billion years. Over such a long span of time, even many Sovereigns might not have lived long enough to experience it.

But just hearing about it, he understood how fierce the competition at the Megaverse Crossroads would be.

How vast was the megaverse? Wu Yuan wasn't sure.

But from the information left behind by Sovereign Black Devil, Wu Yuan already knew that the river of space and time he resided in contained over eight thousand macrocosms.

And this entire river of space and time was merely a part of the megaverse.

How many peerless geniuses would take part?

"From what I know, many super factions have already produced monstrous prodigies among their High Immortals and High Deities whose Dao comprehension levels have reached the Sovereign level," Sovereign Lan Yan said.

"Supreme Geniuses?" Wu Yuan began to feel the pressure.

"Your natural talent surpasses these so-called Supreme Geniuses," Sovereign Lan Yan sighed. "Your disadvantage lies in your short cultivation time... If you had another five hundred thousand years to cultivate, likely no one at the Megaverse Crossroads would be your match.

Even with just fifty thousand more years, your chances of claiming a Saintcrest would increase significantly." Her voice carried a hint of regret, as if lamenting Wu Yuan's circumstances.

Wu Yuan listened silently.

Five hundred thousand years? Fifty thousand years? Unfortunately, there were only sixteen thousand years left.

"Sovereign, this is destiny," Wu Yuan suddenly smiled. "Not all opportunities will wait until I'm fully prepared before arriving. All I can do is give it my utmost effort.

Besides, who could have imagined that in just over two thousand years since arriving at the Spacetime Island, I would possess the combat power of an Astral Monarch?" Wu Yuan smiled. "In another sixteen thousand years... who’s to say I cannot contend for a Saintcrest?"

Wu Yuan's calm voice conveyed his immense self-confidence. This confidence stemmed from two thousand years of arduous cultivation, from repeatedly breaking through limits and surpassing himself in pursuit of his goals.

Sovereign Lan Yan, however, was momentarily stunned.

Then, she finally revealed a faint smile. "Good! Well said indeed. Ming Jian, I look forward to your performance at the Megaverse Crossroads.

I can’t help you with much. However, I'll give you a copy of my cultivation insights into the Law of Space and the Great Dao of Spacetime, accumulated over countless eons. I hope it will be of some assistance to you," Sovereign Lan Yan said.

"Thank you, Sovereign," Wu Yuan gratefully replied.

The cultivation insights of a Sovereign who had fully comprehended the Law of Space were quite valuable. Comparing them with Immortal Sovereign Bei You's insights would surely yield many unique discoveries.

Sovereign Lan Yan raised her jade-like hand, her fingertip emanating blue flames as she pointed towards Wu Yuan from afar.

Whoosh! An invisible force enveloped him, and immediately a flood of information poured into Wu Yuan's mind.

In less than ten breaths, Wu Yuan had completely memorized it all.

"You may leave." Sovereign Lan Yan said.

…

As Wu Yuan’s consciousness returned to his true self, he carefully began to study Sovereign Lan Yan's cultivation insights.

Though both Sovereign Bei You and she had fully comprehended the Law of Space, the two had approached it from different angles, naturally resulting in distinctions.

Combined with Wu Yuan's own accumulated insights, he felt greatly enriched.

Extraordinary! As expected of Sovereign Lan Yan. Wu Yuan immersed himself in Sovereign Lan Yan's insights.

At his level of cultivation, the profundities he comprehended were as vast as oceans. Even occasional moments of epiphanies rarely led to major breakthroughs.

Every bit of progress required constant accumulation and contemplation. Only after a long time could he hope to take a small step forward.

The cultivation insights from Sovereign Lan Yan brought Wu Yuan numerous revelations, saving him much effort and energy.

…

Just two days later.

While the storm Wu Yuan had stirred up had yet to subside, his other good friend Xiang Dao came to pay him a visit.

His true self had personally come, making it hard for Wu Yuan to refuse.

"Astral Monarch Jiu Xue wants to meet me?" Wu Yuan was quite surprised.

"Astral Monarch Jiu Xue is the Astral Monarch in charge of intelligence in the Myriad Waves Palace, holding a high position and great authority. His desire to meet you means he hopes to resolve the karma between you and the palace," Xiang Dao explained.

"I've completed several missions with the Myriad Waves Palace’s assistance in the past. It was truly difficult for me to refuse their request this time round. However, if you really don't wish to meet, I won't put you in a difficult position."

Wu Yuan smiled.

Not put him in a difficult position? In reality, Xiang Dao coming in person to visit him had already put Wu Yuan in a difficult position.

But Wu Yuan understood that Xiang Dao likely had his reasons. Perhaps the benefits offered by the Myriad Waves Palace were too great to decline.

"Alright, I'll meet him," Wu Yuan said, remembering Sovereign Lan Yan's advice.